Pakatan Harapan should stop bickering about its prime ministerial candidate or stand to lose what is left of its credibility in the eyes of the public.
Political analyst Prof P. Sivamurugan said the coalition should instead find solutions to the ongoing health and economic crises in Malaysia.
Commenting on the ‘race for PM’ between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sivamurugan said Pakatan Harapan is leaning towards a confidence crisis as the people are getting fed-up.
“Regardless of political differences, what the people need right now is political collaboration,” he said.
“The opposition should find ways on how to work together with the current government by offering solutions that will help the people bounce back.”
Sivamurugan said if the differences between Anwar and Dr Mahathir are not set aside, it would affect Pakatan’s popularity and image.
“I am afraid this clash of personalities will lead to an end of excitement PH enjoyed pre-May 9, 2018.
“Back then, they gave hope that there is a new way and there can be a ‘new Malaysia’. But right now people can’t seem to see what’s new in Pakatan.
He said between the two (Dr Mahathir and Anwar), one must compromise and the other must sacrifice.
“We do not know who is willing to compromise and sacrifice,” he said, adding DAP and Amanah may prefer Dr Mahathir over the PKR leader as the former prime minister “can perhaps do something Anwar can’t.”
Meanwhile, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said his party and Amanah have not abandoned Anwar in favour of Dr Mahathir.
The Iskandar Puteri MP said supporting Dr Mahathir as Pakatan’s prime minister candidate was the “surest way” for Anwar to become prime minister.
Lim said this following Anwar’s recent interview with Channel News Asia recently. The former deputy prime minister said Malaysia needs a fresh start but he was not willing to be Dr Mahathir’s No. 2.
Instead, he was willing to offer Dr Mahathir a senior minister or minister mentor portfolio if Pakatan reclaims Putrajaya.
In an interview with Sin Chew today, Dr Mahathir said he will continue working with DAP and Amanah following PKR’s rejection of him being PM.
The 95-year-old also said he will not hold future talks on cooperation with Anwar and will find other ways to become prime minister.
JULY 1 REOPENING OF PRESCHOOLS ON TRACK
Deputy Education Minister 1 Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon says preschools and kindergartens will reopen on July 1 as planned.
The National Union of Teaching Profession had on Monday urged the government to postpone the re-opening, claiming the lack of infrastructure hampered these centres from meeting the standard operating procedure set by the government.
Mah, however, said the government will try to help resolve any problems faced by these centres.
FOREIGN NATIONALS URGED TO RENEW EXPIRED PASSES
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says foreigners whose social visit passes expired during the Movement Control Order (MCO) can get them extended at Immigration offices nationwide.
Those with social visit passes that ended during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) can head straight to the airport and return to their respective countries. This, however, needs to be done within 14 days after the RMCO ends on Aug 31.
SINGAPORE GEARS UP FOR GE
Singaporeans will be heading to the polls soon after Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong called for elections as the government’s five-year term will end soon.
Lee advised President Halimah Yacob to dissolve Parliament and issue the writ of election, during a live broadcast today. The term of this Parliament ends by January 2021.
VET SPORTS OFFICIALS
A Malaysian Olympian says it is high time to vet those who want to hold positions in the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) before voting them in.
Frustrated with the lack of progress in the sport, former hockey international Maninderjit Singh said those who intend to be president of the national body should have some form of playing experience or have served the sport for at least 10 years.
TODAY IS OLYMPIC DAY
Olympic Day is a celebration of sport, health and being the best you can be. It was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894 in Paris. The full schedule of athlete-led workouts throughout the day is available on the @Olympic Instagram account.
