Leave Pakatan and look for a new way

Writer: Lan Zhi Feng
Oriental Daily, June 22, 2015

Whether Pakatan still exists or not, the Rocket, Blue Eye and Moon have their own interpretations. If you asked Pakatan supporters in the last general election, you would also get different answers. The crisis has deteriorated to such a stage that the Pakatan banner has been soiled, almost destroyed. Even if you took it for a blood cleansing or did all the rubbings needed, you won’t get back the same image.

If a certain brand of milk powder was found to have been contaminated, the manufacturer would overhaul everything from the raw materials, processing, production and retailing to win back the trust of consumers.

The manufacturer knows well that parents are extremely concerned over the health of their children. They will delete any contaminated milk powder from their shopping list no matter how reputable is the brand.

Similarly, when a political alliance makes beautiful promises in their manifestos to convince people to give them their votes and when the alliance crumbles, what can they do?

Pakatan, which once won over 52 percent votes from supporters hopeful of a change of government, is now near collapsing. Regardless of how you describe the situation – DAP says it is no more in existence, Keadilan says it cannot function normally and PAS says Pakatan still exists while its publicity chief Mustafa Ali says it fainted – these are just political speak.

In fact, Pakatan only exists in name now. The current debate on the Net is “Who buries Pakatan?” The debate has regrettably turned into another row between DAP and PAS.

To argue about who buries Pakatan, or expose more scandals of Pakatan leaders, or attack other parties of betraying the agreement may draw some satisfaction but will do nothing to help the overall situation. Washing dirty linens in public only invite more embarrassment.

It was stated that in the 505 general election, DAP chose to contest under PAS banner because of the action taken by Registrar of Societies. Since Pakatan has not been registered, the breakup is made simple. Pakatan is now an empty shell after doing its duties in the 308 and 505 general elections.

It is time to discard the old clothes and put on a new dress in search of a new partner. And so stop washing dirty linens in public which will not be helpful in the future in any alliance.

Pakatan supporters have their own assessment; they know how to judge. Those who believe these parties will stick to their belief and those who don’t will also stick to their opposing view. The focus now should be on the 14th general election.

In Malaysia’s political history, breaking up of opposition political alliance has happened time and again. The first split was Socialist Front between Parti Rakyat and Labour Party which lasted from 1958 to 1969, followed by Gagasan Rakyat from 1990 to 1995 and Barisan Alternatif from 1999 to 2004.

The fourth would be Pakatan which lasted from 2008 to 2015. It is still the most successful opposition alliance as it has denied Barisan’s two-thirds absolute majority in parliament and won five states. But all these are history.

There are feelings of pain and disappointment without Pakatan but this is not the dark period in our politics. At least we have now seen the true colour of some leaders who attack their partners instead of their political rivals at the most crucial moment.

Voters are no more satisfied with slogans calling for the ouster of a corrupted and abusive regime. They learned from the 308 and 505 general elections and they have become mature and they have higher expectations of their political leaders and politics.

Therefore, instead of arguing Pakatan still exists or not, it is better to let it go and move ahead. Opposition parties must be one step ahead of the voters; it must show its sincerity and demonstrate its performances in order to win votes continuously.

Original Source: 放下民联，另寻出路