PKR-Bersatu cooperation will come at a price, says Fahmi Fadzil

 

Fahmi Fadzil says unity within Pakatan Harapan is important as witnessed by PKR’s ‘costly’ decision to use its own logo in the Johor elections.

PETALING JAYA: PKR must be prepared to pay the price should it decide to work with Bersatu in the coming general election (GE15), its communications director, Fahmi Fadzil, said.

“In politics, nothing is impossible, but whatever decision we make comes at a price,” he said of PKR’s openness to working with non-Pakatan Harapan parties, including Bersatu.

Citing the example of the party’s decision to use its own logo in the recent Johor elections, Fahmi said it proved costly.

“There are some who say that if we use the Keadilan (PKR) logo, more people – maybe an extra 7% to 12% – would vote for the party compared to votes for Pakatan Harapan, but at what cost?

“It could be that you gain a little bit more, but you also lose people who want to see a united opposition. So, there’s always this trade off,” he said.

Analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute had previously said a PKR-Bersatu tie up would help draw support from rural Malay voters.

But Fahmi said there were many factors to consider before PKR could decide to work with Bersatu.

“Is it worthwhile to contest in seats where we have no machinery, for example where we have no strong candidate or no presence, just because it was a seat that belonged to another party,” he asked.

Another factor to consider, he said, was the fate of PH, especially since DAP and Amanah had closed the door on working with Bersatu.

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu have stated their stance against working with Bersatu, one of the main parties behind the Sheraton Move, which ultimately led to the PH administration’s downfall.

Asked what would happen to PH should PKR decide to cooperate with Bersatu, Fahmi said the matter had not been discussed within the party.

“We’ve not had this discussion, so it’s hypothetical. All I can say is, we don’t know if there is a bridge to cross, and I can’t even say what that answer will be when we cross that bridge,” he said. - FMT