Marzuki: Pejuang agrees to ‘big tent’ approach, rejects Anwar as leader

Pejuang has rejected the idea that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim should lead the opposition if a “big tent” approach is taken to face the upcoming 15th general election.

Commenting on the big tent, Pejuang deputy president Marzuki Yahya told Malaysiakini it was not the only way to resolve the current political crisis - especially with Pakatan Harapan being seen as having dropped the ball in the last few state elections and by-elections.

Marzuki said while Pejuang agreed to the strategy, it could not accept Anwar’s leadership.

“I see the big tent (approach) as not the only solution in the (country’s) current political crisis. 

“Since the Sheraton Move, we have seen Harapan losing its focus, especially during the incident that happened during the budget vote where the coalition lacked a clear decision.

“We agree with the big tent (approach) but at the same time, we cannot accept and agree with Anwar’s administration,” he said in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim

The big tent approach has been espoused by several Harapan leaders for the coalition to work together with other opposition parties to ensure straight fights in GE15.

This is after the Malacca and Johor state elections saw BN winning two-thirds majorities despite winning less than 45 percent of the popular vote thanks to the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system.

Not all agree with ‘big tent’

On June 1, Amanah revealed that the party would continue to fight to unite opposition parties under the big tent approach.

Its communications director Khalid Samad said this strategy should be inclusive of all opposition parties, including Pejuang, Warisan, and Muda.

“Amanah’s stance is that the opposition needs to be united. This includes Pejuang, Warisan, and Muda. Why is there a need for a big tent for Harapan?

“Of course, the concept of a big tent involves, other than Harapan, only opposition parties,” he had told Malaysiakini.

However, PKR’s newly elected deputy president Rafizi Ramli had rejected the proposal for his party and Harapan to use the big tent approach in GE15.

For Rafizi, the big tent approach was akin to finding a “new tent”, rather than solving an existing problem.

Rafizi previously argued that PKR could not work with Bersatu, a party that is considered a traitor to PKR, because of its role in collapsing the Harapan-led government through the Sheraton Move in 2020.

Marzuki, too, said that PKR and Harapan should learn from Bersatu’s betrayal in the political coup.

New coalition

Meanwhile, Marzuki said Pejuang is expected to reveal a new coalition ahead of GE15.

The party’s deputy president said the coalition will include a range of political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals.

Marzuki, however, was short on specifics regarding the coalition line-up.

“Of course, we have to accept the fact that it is difficult for us to win the next GE if we are alone. However, we are also in the midst of planning and (the party) will create a coalition for us to participate in the GE.

“Our coalition is not limited to political parties, but (it is) more comprehensive, accepting individuals or associations and groups that have the same narrative or the same goal - which is to correct this country, to restore a country that was once produced by our party leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Insya Allah, we will make an announcement very soon on the coalition as we head towards the general election,” he told Malaysiakini. - Mkini