Bersatu being courted by various parties, says Azmin

Bersatu being courted by various parties, says Azmin

Yesterday

Mohamad Fadli

The party’s secretary-general also hints at good relations with PH in Selangor, following the party being granted use of Dewan Sivik in Petaling Jaya for its anniversary celebration.

Bersatu secretary-general Azmin Ali said various parties were keeping an eye on the party’s moves and had sent their regards.

PETALING JAYA:

Bersatu is being courted by parties interested in forming an alliance to face rivals such as Umno, says party secretary-general Azmin Ali.

“Various parties are courting us. They are keeping an eye on Bersatu’s moves. Some have sent their regards,” he said at Bersatu’s 10th anniversary celebration here tonight.

Azmin said Bersatu’s use of the Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) Dewan Sivik for a party event suggested good relations with Pakatan Harapan in Selangor.

“This is the first time Bersatu has been honoured with being allowed to use the Dewan Sivik. Do you understand me?” he said cryptically.

Muhyiddin Yassin.

Earlier today, Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said negotiations were being finalised with parties that share similar aspirations, including Bersatu, to form a “PH Plus” alliance for the Melaka election.

He said the negotiations were being conducted based on decisions made at a PH presidential council meeting.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said that while the party cannot go solo in the 16th general election, it must choose potential allies based on its principles.

In a speech at the celebration, he assured party members that while Bersatu would find allies for the sake of its survival, it would not compromise the party’s principles.

“(Potential allies) must respect Bersatu’s struggle, appreciate its contributions, and have principles and ambitions that are in line with ours,” he said.

Muhyiddin said Bersatu had already discussed potential electoral cooperation with Muda, while Putra had indicated its openness to working with Bersatu.

***

He dreams of going back to PKR, wakakaka.

 

Loke’s decision may not quell DAP frustration, say analysts

Loke’s decision may not quell DAP frustration, say analysts

2 hours ago

Dineskumar Ragu

Political analysts contend that all five of the party’s ministers should have resigned to give it a better chance of retaining grassroots and Chinese support.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook arriving for the central committee meeting on Saturday. He later announced that he would resign as transport minister in view of the conditional pardon for Najib Razak.

PETALING JAYA:

Political analysts are sceptical whether DAP’s move to have only its secretary-general, Loke Siew Fook, resign as minister would be enough to quell grassroots anger over the conditional pardon given to former prime minister Najib Razak.

One analyst said all five DAP ministers should have resigned. to better retain grassroots support.

Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University of Malaysia told FMT that resigning en masse would have been the right thing to do, even though DAP was not responsible for the conditional pardon granted to Najib.

Such a move would not jeopardise the unity government’s stability, as all 40 of its MPs can continue backing the government in Parliament.

Lau said the decision for only Loke to quit had placed the party in a difficult spot with its supporters, especially those from the Chinese community, at a time when it is losing support, as seen in recent elections.

“What can be done to regain their support? I would propose that all of them resign – not out of anger or because they feel they should take responsibility – but because they have to think about which way is best for them to retain Chinese support in the future.

“This is super critical. Once you lose the trust and bond you have with the Chinese community, it is not easy to patch it up,” he said.

Lau said a lack of Chinese representation in the Cabinet would not be an issue, as PKR can appoint Chinese MPs from the party to fill the positions, or appoint outsiders.

He said Najib appointed Paul Low, former president of Transparency International Malaysia, as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department when MCA refused to join Najib’s Cabinet after losing in the 2013 general election.

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He said that while it was not wrong for DAP ministers to stay in their posts, it risked giving their opponents more opportunities to accuse the party of being power-hungry.

Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said he did not think DAP’s supporters would blame the party if all its ministers resigned en masse, potentially causing the government to fall.

“In fact, support would return (to DAP). I don’t think their supporters would be satisfied with half-measures,” he told FMT.

However, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said DAP’s grassroots should not be too upset by the conditional pardon, as Najib had undergone due process and was pardoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I think DAP supporters should not construe that the party has failed in this particular issue,” he told FMT.

Azmi said Loke’s sole resignation was the right move, as a mass resignation would have given Umno ammunition to put further pressure on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to dissolve Parliament.

“If DAP had decided to leave the government and support Anwar from outside, it would give extra ammunition to Umno to create political turmoil in the unity government,” he said.