Opposition must swallow new political reality, says Azmin
(MMO) – Opposition parties need to accept changes in Malaysia’s political landscape, Selangor Menti Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said today amid continued wrangling over two upcoming by-elections.
The PKR deputy president is hoping to convince PAS to yield its claim in Sungai Besar that the Pakatan Harapan pact is eyeing, but admitted the negotiations were “difficult”.
The Islamist party laid claim to the Selangor seat along with Kuala Kangsar on the basis that both were traditionally allocated to PAS, but Pakatan are seeking to field either a PKR or Amanah candidate in the former.
“They have been in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar for the past how many elections. It is quite natural for them to demand those seats but based on our discussion and negotiations, we have to accept the fact that the scenario has changed since GE13,” he told reporters here.
“So I hope with the wisdom of our leaders in Pakatan Harapan, and also in PAS, we would be able to achieve a consensus before the nomination.”
He added that he was optimistic, but would “have to work harder” to smoothen out negotiations between the party leaders.
Azmin said he concluded from his discussions with allies DAP and Amanah that they were eager to strengthen unity among opposition parties including from outside the pact, in order to defeat Barisan Nasional.
When pressed on whether this included allowing PAS to contest both seats, he said they were still evaluating the best tactics to adopt following lessons learned in the bruising Sarawak election.
“Let us discuss it first. We want to know what is the best strategy to adopt,” he said.
He maintained PKR and PAS cooperated well in the Selangor government and continued to rubbish rumours that he threatened to purge the Islamist party’s officials from his state executive council if it did not yield Sungai Besar.
On Thursday, Azmin denied a report alleging he told state executive councillors from PAS to resign if their party insisted on contesting the Sungai Besar by-election.
New Straits Times Online reported Azmin as calling the article on The Star Online “slanderous”.
Azmin, however, reportedly declined to confirm if PAS would remain in the state government should it remain set on contesting Sungai Besar.
PAS stated repeatedly that it will not make way in either poll, but PKR leaders told Malay Mail Online the party was still negotiating with the Islamist party.
Amanah vice-president Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa said Tuesday convention dictates that his party should contest in both by-elections on June 18 as they would run for any seat previously considered the reserve of PAS.
