PETALING JAYA: Leaders from both sides of the political divide say there are more pressing issues in the country that need to be looked into amid mounting speculation of a new political pact involving Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Umno and PAS.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said his party hasn’t made a decision in regard to the alleged political pact involving Bersatu, Umno and PAS, as MCA has to deal with its own issues before addressing a mere speculation.
“We face the political reality of which Pakatan Harapan is a four-party coalition. Although there are camps and internal conflicts within them, we should not make assumptions at this juncture,” he said, adding that it’s better for Barisan Nasional as the Opposition party to maintain professionalism on the matter.
Dr Wee said if there were plans for the formation of a Pakatan Nasional, Barisan parties comprising Umno, MCA and MIC, which are in constant contact with each other, would be in the know of such intentions.
He was speaking at a press conference at Star City Hotel in Alor Setar yesterday, where he attended a Chinese New Year lunch.
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said political rumours serve no benefit at a time when Malaysia and the rest of the world are facing the novel coronavirus outbreak.
He said opportunists would find ways to destabilise the government.
“So it’s important for the government to rise above petty politics in times of crisis,” he said at his ministry’s Chinese New Year open house in Putrajaya.
Klang DAP MP Charles Santiago said talk of an impending government reshuffle was part and parcel of the political psychological warfare aimed at causing instability in the country.
“It is not helpful as it undermines the economic growth in the country. At this time, every effort must be made to strengthen unity, democracy and economy, and not to tear it down,” he added.
PKR central leadership council (MPP) member and Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, who is a staunch supporter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, questioned the motive behind the move to change the composition of the current ruling coalition.
“Are they trying to deny democracy in this country? Ridiculous.
“We cannot compromise with people who are trying to violate the Constitution and the rule of law,” he added.
A senior MP from Pakatan, who wished not to be named, said the inclusion of PAS in the proposed political pact could adversely impact support from Sabah and Sarawak.
“The numbers don’t add up. With PAS in the picture, it would make it very dicey for Sabah and Sarawak in the new coalition. I don’t know how many supporters from either Gabungan Parti Sarawak or Parti Warisan Sabah would be willing to join the new coalition.
“PAS is not only toxic to non-Malays there but even to the Muslim bumiputra, as both states enjoy a diverse and plural brand of politics.”
The MP believed that the proposal by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi could be a strategy to unsettle other parties within Pakatan.
“It is unfortunate that people are only talking about this now. It’s just preventing us from doing our work,” the MP said.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said his party hasn’t made a decision in regard to the alleged political pact involving Bersatu, Umno and PAS, as MCA has to deal with its own issues before addressing a mere speculation.
“We face the political reality of which Pakatan Harapan is a four-party coalition. Although there are camps and internal conflicts within them, we should not make assumptions at this juncture,” he said, adding that it’s better for Barisan Nasional as the Opposition party to maintain professionalism on the matter.
Dr Wee said if there were plans for the formation of a Pakatan Nasional, Barisan parties comprising Umno, MCA and MIC, which are in constant contact with each other, would be in the know of such intentions.
He was speaking at a press conference at Star City Hotel in Alor Setar yesterday, where he attended a Chinese New Year lunch.
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said political rumours serve no benefit at a time when Malaysia and the rest of the world are facing the novel coronavirus outbreak.
He said opportunists would find ways to destabilise the government.
“So it’s important for the government to rise above petty politics in times of crisis,” he said at his ministry’s Chinese New Year open house in Putrajaya.
Klang DAP MP Charles Santiago said talk of an impending government reshuffle was part and parcel of the political psychological warfare aimed at causing instability in the country.
“It is not helpful as it undermines the economic growth in the country. At this time, every effort must be made to strengthen unity, democracy and economy, and not to tear it down,” he added.
PKR central leadership council (MPP) member and Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, who is a staunch supporter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, questioned the motive behind the move to change the composition of the current ruling coalition.
“Are they trying to deny democracy in this country? Ridiculous.
“We cannot compromise with people who are trying to violate the Constitution and the rule of law,” he added.
A senior MP from Pakatan, who wished not to be named, said the inclusion of PAS in the proposed political pact could adversely impact support from Sabah and Sarawak.
“The numbers don’t add up. With PAS in the picture, it would make it very dicey for Sabah and Sarawak in the new coalition. I don’t know how many supporters from either Gabungan Parti Sarawak or Parti Warisan Sabah would be willing to join the new coalition.
“PAS is not only toxic to non-Malays there but even to the Muslim bumiputra, as both states enjoy a diverse and plural brand of politics.”
The MP believed that the proposal by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi could be a strategy to unsettle other parties within Pakatan.
“It is unfortunate that people are only talking about this now. It’s just preventing us from doing our work,” the MP said.
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