PM issue - we mustn't fall into the same hole again, says PKR sec-gen
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (above) has urged Pakatan Harapan supporters to be patient while the coalition worked on regaining the people's mandate from the Perikatan Nasional government.
"We must be careful so that we don't fall into the same hole over and over again," he said in an interview with the Chinese daily Kwong Wah today.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (above) has urged Pakatan Harapan supporters to be patient while the coalition worked on regaining the people's mandate from the Perikatan Nasional government.
"We must be careful so that we don't fall into the same hole over and over again," he said in an interview with the Chinese daily Kwong Wah today.
He noted the people's concern that they did not want to see the opposition entwined over the issue of their prime minister candidate.
"They don't want to see us stuck on the prime minister candidate issue. I respect that view. They also want us to guarantee that the government which will be formed is sustainable.
"It's meaningless to take over the government but (with the leaders still) fighting with each other," he said.
The Kulim Bandar Baharu MP also said opposition lawmakers in Parliament would utilise the power they have to challenge the government's bills, notably financial bills.
"There are two bills, one which is in regard to Covid-19, the other is the allocation for new ministry departments. We will challenge them to see if they (the government) has enough numbers to defend the bills," he said.
Parliament will sit from July 13 to August 27.
Asked whether the people would support PN if there were snap polls, Saifuddin said it's unlikely as the government had a bad record.
"Firstly, no matter how the PN leaders try to justify it, it's etched in the people's mind that they had snatched power (from Harapan)."
The second reason, Saifuddin said, was that unlike Harapan which was bound by a clear leadership structure and manifesto, PN had none of these.
Lastly, Saifuddin opined that PN was trying to win support after purportedly having proved to the people that it had managed to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.
"But as mentioned by the health director-general (Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah), the ministry had begun with good policies and plans which were started by Harapan."
Saifuddin also said Umno's priority was for Muafakat Nasional, the cooperation pact with Pas.
"Their support for Perikatan Nasional is only until the general election. Their priority is Muafakat Nasional. Umno does not support Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
"That is why we see him working hard to retain support by awarding the MPs with government positions, hoping that they will continue to support him," he said.
