In decisive convention, Pakatan leaders seek to shift gears, but analysts remain tepid

PETALING JAYA, Jan 7 ― While all eyes will be on Pakatan Harapan to announce its prime minister candidate following its annual convention today, it would be crunch time for the Opposition pact as it heads into the 14th general elections (GE14).

Leaders from its Women’s wing met at the sidelines of its maiden convention yesterday said the pact has a plethora of outstanding issues to settle prior to the polls, not least strategies to face ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) and cement ties within its components.

“We will focus on gearing our members in facing the mother of all elections and at the same time we will define what we are offering to the people,” wing chief Zuraida Kamaruddin told Malay Mail.

Meanwhile, her deputy Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said the pact would have discuss views shared by the civil societies and the public, especially following de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent calls for leaders to put their ears on the ground.

“We will have speakers from different spectrum of the society as well as to declare our manifesto and what is the narrative we are presenting.

“The culmination of the convention will address our designate for prime minister,” said Dr Siti Mariah, who also leads the women’s wing of Parti Amanah Negara.

Fellow PH wing deputy Chong Eng added that the convention would give a chance for the component parties to show the public their unity.

“We will present ourselves as a united front to show the people that we are the viable choice and an alternative for the people to rally behind,” DAP’s Chong said.

Is there hope left for Pakatan?

But amid the cheerleading of its leaders, several political analysts polled by Malay Mail expressed apathy for the pact and the convention, which they deemed lacklustre and devoid of purpose.

Universiti Utara Malaysia’s senior political lecturer Md Shukri Shuib said the unlikely focus on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would render the pact’s struggle meaningless, considering he was the impetus behind the split that saw PKR formed.

“For GE14, Pakatan appears to be this elite party. Two or three elections ago, the public may be able to resonate with what Pakatan was fighting for but not this election because they have turned 180 degrees from who they were as a party.

“Now that Tun M, the former nemesis, has dabbled into the administration of the Opposition, it also eliminates the charisma surrounding Anwar Ibrahim and his family, and also the respect that people have for them,” he told Malay Mail, referring to Dr Mahathir.

He claimed the convention would no longer interest the public since the Opposition has adopted a similar “administration style” to BN, making the two too similar.

“People know that even if Pakatan wins GE14, it would be meaningless because now Tun M is in the picture. He is just going to do the same thing he did when he was in power.

“Such a shame. There is no more hope for Harapan. The leaders like Mohamad Sabu, Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, the late Karpal Singh and even Wan Azizah ― apparently they all fought for nothing,” he lamented.

Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia’s political analyst Aruna Gopinath concurred, adding the public, just like herself, cannot possibly have confidence in a pact with internal squabbles and could not see each other eye to eye.

The associate professor also questioned the purpose of the convention, apart from fighting for what she deemed Dr Mahathir’s personal agenda.

“Election is not for the sake of electing. At this juncture, I don’t see the point of a convention. What are they even doing bringing back this man in his 90’s and fighting for his personal agenda?” she asked.

“As a coalition, if you are constantly unsure about a strong candidate then what is the party even for? The only way you can garner people’s confidence is by being better than your opponent, not stooping to their level.

“Use and uphold our democracy, don’t make a mockery out of it,” she said.

PH confirmed last week week that its prime minister candidate will be announced following its second convention today.

The Opposition coalition recently proposed PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister, and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy, should it win the next general elections.