Nurul Izzah coy on whether PPBM a liability

The PKR vice-president urges all opposition leaders to get their act together and stay focussed on the “reformasi” agenda.

(FMT) – PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar has remained coy on whether its newest ally, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), is a liability to the opposition coalition of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

While she did not answer the question directly when asked, she did however urge all opposition parties to get their act together, especially with the 14th general election looming ahead.

“Everyone has to understand that the electorate is waiting.

“We have to make the rakyat our focus, and win the next general election. Or else everyone will suffer,” she told reporters at the PKR headquarters here today.

Nurul was asked if the scandals surrounding the four-month-old PPBM, and the party’s prevalent internal politics made it a liability to PH.

When pressed for an answer, Nurul said it was more about how the opposition managed its communications in the lead-up to the general election.

“We need to heal, to be more patient and to focus on unity. So, no matter how disappointed, or angry we are, for me, we have the time to get everyone focused on the ‘reformasi’ agenda.”

PPBM has been plagued with scandals, from allegations involving its president Muhyiddin Yassin, who was rumoured to have had an affair with a married woman, to the sexting scandal implicating one of the party’s founding members, Anina Saadudin.

While Muhyiddin’s alleged affair was exposed by those outside PPBM, Anina’s allegedly came from her former aide who is also a member of the party.

Anina claimed the scandal was the reason she was stripped of her Srikandi (women) chief post. She also hinted at brewing internal politics when she said that if party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been president instead, this would not have happened.