The people are not happy with what Pakatan has been doing, admits PM

PUTRAJAYA: Malays and Chinese both sent a warning to Pakatan Harapan that they are not happy with us in Tanjung Piai, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Prime Minister said the defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election was a warning to Pakatan that many of the things the ruling coalition had been doing were not accepted by the people on the ground.

The chairman of Pakatan and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) further said that all the top four party leaders of Pakatan had agreed that they would not blame each other or hurl abuses for the defeat.

"We, the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council, are aware that the terrible result of the Tanjung Piai by-election is a warning that many of the things that we are doing are not accepted by the people, especially with regard to the cost of living and such.

"We are also aware that there were other accusations that Pakatan is being controlled by DAP – that is the opinion of the Malays, while the Chinese feel that DAP is being horsed around by Dr Mahathir of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

"Both sides (Malays and Chinese) are unhappy, but we cannot satisfy everyone.

"However, the situation now is that the people are not satisfied as we are being paired to both sides," said Dr Mahathir to the media.

He made these comments as he was flanked by all the leaders of Pakatan party, after a presidential council meeting to do a main post-mortem on the defeat in Tanjung Piai on Nov 16.

Pakatan received its biggest blow in a by-election when its Bersatu candidate Karmaine Sardini lost to MCA's Datuk Dr Wee Jeck Seng with more than a 15,000-majority.

Dr Mahathir also said that although there were people who opined that there were cracks in the coalition, the leadership of Pakatan remained intact.

"These may be among disgruntled members, some of whom who may not know the real details and facts. We practise freedom of speech and will not shut anyone up.

"They can voice their concerns at their party or committee levels and there is no need to publicise it outside, which will only raise suspicions (against Pakatan)," said Dr Mahathir.

He also said that parliamentary constituency coordinators would be elected for all constituencies.

"There are many reasons for the defeat in Tanjung Piai, not only due to the issue of parlimentary constituency coordinators. Maybe they want to remind us (the need for a coordinator), and we are reminded (of the need for one)," said Dr Mahathir.

The appointment of parliamentary coordinators for constituencies (without Pakatan MPs) as under the previous government has yet to be done by Pakatan.

The media conference was attended by the presidents of Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Nasional Mohamad Sabu and DAP Lim Guan Eng.

Also present were other top leaders of Pakatan.