DAP strategic director Liew Chin Tong expects the brewing tension in Bersatu to affect Perikatan Nasional’s support, regardless of PAS‘s popularity among Malay voters.
Liew said Malaysians would find it hard to identify with a divided opposition bloc, despite PN playing up issues against the unity government.
While PN might seek to “harp on Malay issues”, the Iskandar Puteri MP said such narratives did not appeal to everyone in the community and would alienate non-Malays and East Malaysians.
“The commotion at Bersatu’s national conference is a symptom of a larger crisis looming in the party. And an unstable Bersatu will affect PN, no matter how popular PAS is among the Malays.
“However, while PN is dealing with its internal crisis, Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional with their allies in Sabah and Sarawak should not rest on their laurels.
“Much has been done by the Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government for the people but much more needs to be done,” Liew said in a Facebook post.
At the party’s annual assembly over the weekend, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin faced poison-pen letters, delegates shouting in the hall, and previously quiet dissent coming out into the open.
A commotion erupted late on Saturday night after Muhyiddin said in his address that some had been collecting signatures to oust him. A small group of delegates then called for him to step down, while the majority of attendees broke into chants of “Hidup Tan Sri” in his support.
A day after the commotion, Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin pledged loyalty to Muhyiddin.
There was previously speculation that 122 division chiefs had signed statutory declarations urging Muhyiddin to implement a change of leadership in Bersatu before the next general election.
‘3 glaring mistakes’
Liew also said Muhyiddin had made three “glaring mistakes” at the Bersatu assembly, first by bringing up the issue of people wanting to oust him despite later playing it down as a small matter.
He said this contradicted the PN chairman’s constant denial of disunity within his party.
The DAP man said Muhyiddin’s second mistake was trying to come off as a “hero” in Bersatu by publicly taking on the detractors in his party.
“His act at the party assembly only displays his determination to stay on forever until his dream of becoming prime minister again is achieved.
“And that’s the core of the problem because Hamzah, (Bersatu secretary-general) Azmin Ali, and most importantly, PAS, realise that Muhyiddin lacks the charisma, strength, and time, which could pose a serious threat to Bersatu’s longevity and PN’s winnability.”
The final mistake was Muhyiddin’s failure to face the reality of his unpopularity and his decision to force his way into staying on in the top post, even being named as Bersatu’s prime ministerial candidate for GE16, said Liew.
