KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — The new PAS-led opposition bloc will act to amplify at the national level the voices of smaller political groups and non-governmental organisations that have been sidelined for too long, the Islamist party’s research centre said today in response to naysayers.
Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki added that these groups were important in shaping the political landscape.
“The creation of this Third Bloc even though viewed with scepticism by some, is certain to become a ‘loudspeaker’ to smaller parties, NGOs and prominent individuals.
“Previously, the voices of these groups and leaders who represented various levels of society were not heard because of their limited reach,” he said in a statement.
He added that there were no fewer than 20 new political parties registered in the last three years.
As examples, he cited Parti Keadilan India Malaysia (MIJP), Parti Bersatu Bugis Sabah, Parti Bangsa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru), Parti Generasi Baru (NewGen Party) and Parti Nasional Penduduk Malaysia.
Zuhdi also said some may viewed the smaller political parties and NGOs as having “zero” impact but added that together, they will enough influence to shape the country’s political landscape on issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.
Several figures have expressed doubts on PAS recent alliance with Parti Ikatan Bangsa (Ikatan), with former Umno minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim dismissing the new pact as the third force in local politics.
Another former minister, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, said that the coalition would not last if the new opposition coalition did not come up with specific objectives.
Meanwhile, the Former Elected Representatives Council (Mubarak) said that Ikatan will only burden PAS as the one-year-old party did not have any lawmaker or political influence to help the Islamic party.
