Muda’s application to join Pakatan now in doubt

PETALING JAYA: Amid talk that Muda had caused a split in votes for Pakatan Harapan, a PKR leader has voiced reservations about the application from the Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman-led (pic) party to join the coalition.

“I don’t think the Pakatan leadership will look kindly into Muda’s application after this episode,” said PKR central leadership council member Wong Chen.

He said Pakatan could have won the Sungai Kandis seat without Muda in the fray.

“People should ask Muda what their overall strategy or goal in these elections was,” he said when contacted.

On Saturday, Pakatan communications director Fahmi Fadzil expressed disappointment over the split of votes. Perikatan Nasional candidate Wan Dzahanurin Ahmad won the Sungai Kandis seat with a majority of 167 votes over Pakatan’s Zawawi Mughni.

Wan Dzahanurin secured 28,926 votes in a three-cornered fight which saw Muda candidate Afriena Shaqira getting 1,341 votes.

Critics said Pakatan would have been able to win the seat had it not been for Muda’s candidacy.

Muda communications head Leben Siddarth said that Malaysia was a democratic country in which anyone could participate in elections.

“No party should blame another for their performance in this election. Malaysians have the right to choose, so the argument of splitting votes should never be brought up,” he said, adding that Muda would continue to work harder.

“We reiterate our commitment to voice out wrongdoings and be the check and balance to both federal and state governments,” said Leben.

Political pundit Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar from the International Islamic University Malaysia said the polls result showed that Muda could not convince its voters of its political idealism.“Without the support of a big coalition, Muda cannot make any significant impact,” he said.

Muda could split votes in favour of Perikatan, but this only happened in Sungai Kandis.

Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said Muda was capable of being a spoiler.

“So whether PKR should accept Muda in the next general election is something to be pondered on,” he said.

A source close to the party said that Syed Saddiq, as Muda chief, should take a cue from the dismal election outing.

On whether Muda should consider Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang’s suggestion that the party merge with DAP, the source said they should or they might not survive in the next general election.

Syed Saddiq said in a tweet yesterday that Muda would continue to play a check and balance role. The party, he said, had a long journey ahead.

“Thanks for giving Muda a chance. We value every one of the 30,292 votes from you. We will work even harder to secure the trust and support from those who didn’t vote for us.

“We accept this defeat with an open heart. I take full responsibility for this. There is a lot that can be improved. There is a lot to learn,” he said.

All 19 Muda candidates lost their deposits.