KUALA LUMPUR: A Bersatu leader has brushed off talk that the party is riding on PAS’ coattails, saying the two Perikatan Nasional (PN) components depended on each other to fulfil the coalition’s agenda.
Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan said this was normal in Malaysian politics and that Bersatu’s rivals Umno had been doing the same for decades under Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Any party in Malaysia needs allies. Umno relies on MCA and MIC. Now Umno relies on Anwar Ibrahim and even DAP,” Wan Saiful told FMT in an interview.
He was responding to Bersatu’s critics who voiced doubt over the party’s strength without the backing it received from PAS. Some observers have said that Bersatu is heavily reliant on PAS because of the latter’s strong grassroots and machinery.
The former Bersatu information chief said the party acknowledged it could not pursue its struggles by itself, and that the reality of Malaysian politics dictated that different parties must work together if they wish to be in government.
“PAS has the strong machinery, Bersatu presents a strong image and trustworthy reputation, and Gerakan contributes the multiracial agenda.
“We complement each other. It’s a successful strategy,” he said adding that PN’s performance in the 15th general election (GE15) reflected this with the coalition taking 74 parliamentary seats, 43 of which were won by PAS and the remaining 31 by Bersatu.
Wan Saiful also said Bersatu was now in a stronger position because of the support it enjoyed from the youth.
As such, the party did not need to position itself as an alternative to Umno, he said. - FMT
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