Johor polls: Common logo would've made it easier for voters, says DAP and Amanah

PETALING JAYA: Using the same logo would have made it easier for voters to identify Pakatan Harapan component parties, said DAP and Parti Amanah Negara.

"It will also help voters identify Amanah, DAP, PKR and Upko as allies of Pakatan in a crowded field of political coalitions and parties at the Johor polls," said Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a joint statement on Thursday (Jan 27).

Lim and Mohamad appeared to be disappointed about PKR's decision to use its own logo in the upcoming Johor state election, as they argued that a common logo would have shown voters Pakatan's seriousness in governing again.

"Swing voters generally respond positively to coalitions or parties which they perceived could win power and could work together despite differences," they said.

Despite the differences, Lim and Mohamad said both Amanah and DAP will not abandon the Pakatan label, as there are three remaining states under the coalition's administration - Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan.

"For this reason, both Amanah and DAP will not abandon the coalition logo which would have been perceived as abandoning our efforts to regain Putrajaya for the rakyat," the duo added.

The duo said that as a coalition, all Pakatan allies should unite under the same symbol with a common purpose and a shared political agenda.

"Both Amanah and DAP are of the opinion that political allies and coalition partners stay together in good times and in bad times," they added.

They explained that the use of PKR's logo during the 14th General Election in 2018 came following several rounds of "tremendously difficult negotiations".

"Having achieved the policy decision to use a single logo, the PKR logo was used during GE14 due to the difficulty of getting Pakatan registered by the Registrar of Societies (RoS)," they added.

The duo also pointed out that after Pakatan was registered by the RoS, its logo was used by Anwar in the Port Dickson by-election.

"Upon winning the 2018 general election, Pakatan became a registered entity with an approved logo, of which Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim adopted when he contested successfully in the Port Dickson by-election in October 2018."

The duo said that despite the differing views, Amanah and DAP will continue engaging PKR and other Opposition parties such as the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) in hopes to achieve a united front before the Johor state election.

A statement by the Pakatan presidential council on Wednesday (Jan 26) said it agreed to respect PKR's decision to use its own logo to take on the state election, while DAP and Amanah will use the Pakatan logo.

It added that Anwar will write to the Election Commission (EC) to give DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu the prerogative to issue endorsement letters (surat watikah) for Pakatan candidates.

Prior to the dissolution of the state assembly on Jan 22, Pakatan had 27 assemblymen, consisting of 14 from DAP, PKR (seven) and Amanah (six).