Greetings: Muhyiddin arriving for the Perikatan convention in Serdang. With him is Abdul Hadi. — ART CHEN/The Star
SERDANG: The battle lines have been drawn.
Perikatan Nasional is in a “fighting” mode as it relishes the chance of facing estranged partner Barisan Nasional.
Leading the war cry at the Perikatan convention yesterday was coalition chairman and prime minister candidate Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who was calling on his troops to take advantage of what they perceived as Barisan’s waning support.
“If the Prime Minister decides to meet with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to recommend the dissolution of Parliament tomorrow, we are ready. As anak jantan, we are all prepared to enter the ring and fight.”
Referring to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s demand that GE15 should be held this year, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president said that meant Barisan was not strong.
“Zahid said if we wait, Barisan may lose,” he said, adding that the coalition would lose either way.
Perikatan and Barisan are currently partners in the Federal Government but both coalitions have decided to go their own way for GE15.
Muhyiddin called on voters to choose Perikatan as it had proven that it cared for the rakyat.
“When I was prime minister, the government’s focus was only to help the rakyat go through the difficult tribulations of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We made sure our Covid-19 immunisation programme was a success.
“We gave out about RM530bil and it was the biggest assistance package for the people in the country’s history,” he said.
“The difference between Perikatan and Barisan is like night and day,” added Muhyiddin.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said Perikatan had a proven track record in the states that it governed like Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Sabah.
“In the short period ... people are able to see and judge us. We proved that we governed with integrity.”
Abdul Hadi, who is the deputy chairman, suggested how Perikatan should approach GE15.
“Let’s unite, reject our old weaknesses and make sure we win.”
He also urged the people not to return Pakatan Harapan to power.
“When Pakatan took over as government in 2018, everything was a mess. They are an instant noodle government that is uncooked.”
He claimed that there was a crisis caused by the squabbling over who should be prime minister.
“They forgot the real issues.”
Present at the convention were leaders of Perikatan’s component parties – Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah STAR) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).
