PH must look beyond BN, open door to Bersatu and other parties, says Amanah leader
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan (PH) should not depend solely on Barisan Nasional (BN) for electoral cooperation and must be prepared to forge alliances with other parties, including Bersatu, Muda and smaller political groups, an Amanah leader said.
The leader said PH should adopt a broader “big tent” approach ahead of the next elections, arguing that political realities in Malaysia had shown no party could secure victory on its own.
He also said BN should not assume that all 21 seats it currently holds in Melaka would remain untouched if it wants to negotiate an electoral pact with PH.
“If we are negotiating, there must be something that we gain and something that we give up. If everything is to be given to one side, that is not negotiation,” he said.
The remarks come as political parties weigh possible cooperation ahead of the Melaka state election, with PH and BN facing competing pressures over seat allocation and their respective political strategies.
The Amanah leader said PH had already demonstrated its willingness to make concessions to BN in previous elections, citing Selangor as an example.
He said UMNO was allocated 10 seats in Selangor under the cooperation, despite PH parties having the option of defending those seats themselves.
“I was involved in the negotiations for PH in Selangor. DAP could have defended the seats it had previously won, but because of our agreement and sincerity in negotiations, UMNO was eventually given 10 seats.
“That is what negotiation is about,” he said.
‘BN cannot negotiate with conditions already fixed’
He said the same principle should apply to Melaka, warning that negotiations would become meaningless if BN entered discussions with all its demands already predetermined.
“If from the beginning you put conditions such as this and that, how can you call it negotiation?
“In a negotiation, there are things we get and things we have to let go. If we want everything, that is not negotiation,” he said.
He added that PH could consider retaining former Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh as part of the political equation, but stressed that the distribution of seats must still be discussed.
“If only seven seats are given and all of them are seats that are difficult for us to win, that is also a problem.
“For me, negotiations must begin with sincerity,” he said.
PH should not close the door on Bersatu
The Amanah leader also called on PH to look beyond its current alliance with BN, saying Bersatu could potentially add electoral value to the coalition.
He argued that Bersatu should not automatically be ruled out despite its current position in the opposition.
“If there is a big-tent arrangement involving Bersatu, I believe it can add value to PH’s support,” he said.
He pointed out that political alliances had changed dramatically over the years, citing PH’s eventual cooperation with BN as proof that former political rivals could become partners.
“Who would have thought that Pakatan Harapan could sit at the same table and work with Barisan Nasional?
“So, we cannot predict whether politics will move towards A or B. It depends on the situation at that time,” he said.
He said the same principle could apply to Muda, Bersama, PSM and other smaller parties that shared similar objectives.
“Anyone who has the same intention and the same goal — why not work with Pakatan Harapan?” he said.
Johor, Negeri Sembilan cooperation with PN ‘hurt PH supporters’
However, he expressed disappointment with BN’s political cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, saying it had affected the confidence of PH grassroots supporters.
He said PH had previously made significant concessions to BN despite the latter’s weak electoral position following the 15th general election.
BN won only 30 parliamentary seats in GE15, while in Selangor it secured just two state seats, he said.
Yet PH had subsequently helped BN regain political ground through cooperation.
The Amanah leader said this demonstrated PH’s “sincerity” in working with BN, but argued that BN’s subsequent cooperation with PN had raised questions among PH supporters.
He said such political ambiguity could ultimately undermine stability.
“It is strange for a party in government to cooperate with the opposition.
“Political confusion like this can make politics unstable and eventually affect the economy and the country,” he said.
Amanah willing to work with BN — if it benefits Melaka
On the possibility of renewed PH-BN cooperation in Melaka, he said Amanah would be prepared to consider it if such an arrangement served the interests of the state and its people.
“If that is the best option for Melaka, I believe Amanah can agree for the sake of the state and its people,” he said.
However, he said the decision ultimately rested with BN.
“The ball is in BN’s court. They have to decide whether they want to choose Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional.
“PH is used to working with different parties. Our objective is only one — to protect the interests of the state and the country,” he said.
‘PH’s three parties remain intact’
Despite uncertainty over future alliances, the leader expressed confidence that PH’s three component parties — PKR, DAP and Amanah — would remain united.
“I have full confidence that whatever happens after Sept 16, Pakatan Harapan will remain intact.
“The three parties will remain strong and united. We are like siblings and will continue to stand together,” he said.
He said the coalition’s future strategy should therefore focus on strengthening its core while remaining open to new partners.
“The political landscape is changing. We cannot win alone.
“If there is an opportunity to build strength for the people and the country, why not work together with anyone who shares the same objectives?” he said.