Who Helms Pakatan Harapan?

STRIVING for equality in any given situation is a good thing. Everyone’s interests are taken into account and attempts will be made for all to be treated fairly. However trying to achieve this is no easy feat. Compromises may need to be made while consensus must be reached before such an ideal situation arises. Now the recent exchange of words between Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) coalition partners is interesting in this regard. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had asserted that a Malay-led party would lead the coalition. This was promptly denied by DAP MP Anthony Loke, who had emphasized there is no dominant party in PH. In fact, he stressed that all parties are equal.

Of course this is not the first time DAP and PPBM have disagreed on the coalition’s form. Last September former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had stated that in the event PH won the next general election, TS Muhyiddin would be the top pick for the prime minister post. Instead DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang proposed opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as interim prime minister and TS Muhyiddin as interim deputy prime minister. Consequently a senior leader in PPBM chided Lim Kit Siang for publicly discussing such matters candidly.

On the surface all parties involved give the appearance that they will arrive at a decision in a cordial manner. But it is increasingly apparent both DAP and PPBM have yet to get on the same page and the fact that the disagreement over who leads PH is being played out publicly rather than dealing with it behind closed doors is an indication of disunity. While there is high hopes that the opposition coalition will recoup politically, particularly after the breakup of Pakatan Rakyat, nevertheless there is concern as to whether the alliance is truly prepared to lead Putrajaya.

One can foresee infighting between the respective parties over the country’s top leadership position as well as cabinet posts in the event the opposition wins the general elections. Malaysia has never faced a government in limbo. Perhaps PH and the rakyat should carefully ponder over this as the country looks toward the forthcoming polls.

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