Dual-pact opposition a step backwards, Amanah leaders tell PKR

(Malay Mail Online) – Two Parti Amanah Negara leaders chided today the idea of two separate opposition alliances, calling such a suggestion “regressive” after opposition parties have banded together to form Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad suggested that PKR leader Chua Tian Chang, who revealed that PKR is mulling the idea, should instead be focusing on strengthening PH.

“To do what was done in the past would be a step backwards … At that point in time, it was not possible to have direct communication, but now we have this coalition and we are working together.

“So the official stand of all the parties [within PH] and specifically for Amanah is that we strengthen PH, at the same time our policies towards PAS is that we still have our doors open for them to either join PH or to have a cooperation agreement with PH.

“I think that’s the approach Tian Chua, as an individual should pursue rather than presenting this theory of a double coalition,” Khalid told reporters in a press conference here.

In an interview with the Malay Mail Online early this month, Tian Chua said that PKR is considering the possibility of the opposition contesting the next general election as two separate alliances, like the now-defunct Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) and Gagasan Rakyat (GR) pacts in 1990 when PAS and the DAP were in separate coalitions.

Back in the 1990 elections, PAS and the DAP contested in APU and GR respectively, with Semangat 46 led by former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in both alliances, because the Islamist and the secular parties believed that they would lose voter support if they were in the same coalition.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present at the press conference, echoed Khalid’s sentiments, adding that PH cannot afford to do any more mistakes in such a crucial time when the new coalition’s performance is being watched by voters.

“We learn from the past and we look forward to the future..we cannot afford at this point in time, to make any mistake that was done in the past as it would be a step backwards.

“At that point in time it was not possible for a direct communication, but now we have this coalition,” he said referring to PH.

PH was formed in September comprising the DAP, PKR and PAS splinter group Amanah, after PAS snubbed an offer to join the pact.

Both the DAP and Amanah are in conflict with PAS, but PKR has maintained ties with the Islamist opposition party as well as with the DAP and Amanah.