DAP MP says no need for formal Opposition pact to battle BN in GE14

(MMO) – A formal Opposition coalition is not necessary to fight against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general elections, DAP’s Zairil Khir Johari has said.

Instead, the Bukit Bendera MP said what was necessary was for the disparate Opposition parties to work together to ensure straight fights, whether formally or informally, Malay daily Sinar Harian reported today.

“A one-on-one fight has to be achieved by the opposition. We have to be clear what’s the Opposition’s goal,” he was quoted saying.

The DAP assistant national publicity secretary added that candidates must be chosen from parties with “comparative advantage” to contest.

“This means that the selection of party must be based on the principle of winnability and who is most influential in the particular area,” Zairil was reported saying.

DAP, PKR and PAS splinter party Amanah formed an informal alliance called Pakatan Harapan last year, following the breakup of the previous Pakatan Rakyat pact formed following the federal Opposition parties’ landmark wins in Election 2008.

PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had earlier this year proposed a “grand coalition” of other Opposition parties to go head-to-head with the BN in the next national polls after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin left Umno and set up Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Nothing concrete has emerged to date though the Opposition parties all maintain they are open to cooperation with each other.

In a separate report today, Sinar Harian reported Amanah vice-president Salahuddin Ayub pushing urgently for the Opposition parties, including Pribumi, to discard their animosity with each other to achieve their common political aim to defeat the BN.

“Before we can decide on who will be contesting, all the opposition parties have to come to the negotiation table. After that only we can talk about seat division and all.

“But, the most important rule is that all opposition parties need to have the same goal and we have to unite to achieve that goal,” Salahuddin was quoted saying.

But Salahuddin also shared Zairil’s view to field only “winnable” candidates and to go for one-on-one fights against the BN.

This sentiment was also echoed by the head of PAS’s ulama wing Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed.

“I think all opposition parties agreed and are determined not to face a three cornered fight. We all hope to defeat BN in a straight fight.

“If this happens, there is a high possibility [the opposition] would win. But, whether it happens or not, that’s Wallahualam,” he was quoted saying in a separate Sinar Harian report today, using the Arabic phrase meaning “Allah knows best”.

However, Mahfodz dismissed claims that his party is in seat negotiations with its former Pakatan allies, stressing that it was only working with Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan) and other Islamist non-governmental groups.

“What we have now is only cooperation with Ikatan and other NGOs. What is for certain is that we won’t have any relationship with DAP or Parti Amanah Negara.

“The rest including Parti Pribumi, maybe. But for now, I don’t know. [Maybe in the future] because the in the current politics anything is possible according to the time,” he was quoted saying.