Opposition front may not take root

PETALING JAYA: A united Opposition front for the 14th general election (GE14) is likely to remain an avowed dream.

Pakatan Harapan leaders said they are frustrated by PAS’ refusal to commit to the Opposition’s bid to ensure straight fights against the Barisan Nasional in all constituencies.

As such, Pakatan is already working on Plan B – election strategies for the likely scenario where PAS will contest against Pakatan parties, namely Amanah.

Such a move, according to analysts, will benefit Barisan by splitting the Opposition vote.

“During Pakatan’s convention last month, we mentioned that the deadline for PAS to decide whether they want to go it alone or stick with us should be the end of December (2016),” Amanah vice-president Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa said.

Although the deadline has been extended to mid-January, PAS has not responded.

Pakatan chief secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said there was still a possibility that PAS would join hands but said the coalition “cannot wait any longer”.

“Pakatan needs a Plan B, because if PAS holds out until the last minute, it could be too close to the polls. We are preparing for all possibilities,” he said.

Asked what strategy Pakatan would adopt if PAS went against the “unity plan”, Mujahid, who is the Parit Buntar MP, said the coalition must be clear in explaining to supporters that “a vote for PAS equalled a vote for Umno”.

“We have to tell our voters that PAS, which is neither here nor there, is an obstacle in our way,’’ he added.

PAS election director Datuk Mustafa Ali stood his ground, confirming that PAS would not work with Amanah and DAP.

However, he said co-operation with PKR and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) was being discussed to avoid contesting against each other.

“The discussion between PAS, PKR and PPBM is ongoing, and there is no deadline set,’’ said Mustafa.

PPBM, chaired by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is not a formal member of Pakatan which comprises PKR, DAP and Amanah, though the party did sign an electoral pact with the coalition last month.

PPBM vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman is optimistic his party and PAS can come to an agreement.

“I am very positive that we will be able to work together as we share the same objectives,’’ he added.

A PAS-Amanah clash in GE14 is going to be bad news for the Opposition, said Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.

There are 86 Malay majority seats in Peninsular Malaysia, each with core supporters of Barisan and the Opposition.

With Amanah reportedly planning to contest up to 30 of the seats, a clash with PAS would split the Opposition vote in each of the seats, benefiting Umno, Prof Sivamurugan said.

“This can help Umno retain all the 88 seats it won in the last election, maybe even a few more,” he added.

Some analysts predict that a fractured Opposition would bolster the Barisan’s chances of regaining its two-thirds parliamentary majority, but Prof Sivamurugan is not so sure about this.

He cautioned that the Barisan could not rely merely on the Opposition’s disarray.

He said Barisan needed the right candidates and must minimise sabotage by those who were disgruntled, adding that it must also get to grips with issues during campaigning.

“Umno must also ensure that there is no split within its own ranks,’’ added Prof Sivamurugan.