Pakatan Harapan (PH) has failed to push back against accusations that the Chinese community would dominate the Malays if the coalition came back into power, Anwar Ibrahim said today.
The opposition leader said the same propaganda was used by its enemies in the Malacca state elections last Saturday.
“Their campaign revolved around painting the perception that if PH ruled, the Chinese community would dominate the Malays.
“We know that is not true, and we have denied this in the 22 months that we were in government, but we have not been able to convince the people,” he said.
The PKR president was commenting on the issue at an event in Machap, Johor, which saw Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik join the reform party.
The Port Dickson MP said though PH’s performance in the 22 months was well received, racial issues against the coalition had been too ingrained and difficult to shake off.
“Though our policies were good, we still found it a challenge to get rid of this perception among the people,” he noted.
On the thumping it got in Malacca, Anwar said the new campaigning standard operating procedure worked to the advantage of the ruling coalition.
“Many say Malacca was a campaign that wasn’t really a campaign as it was difficult to reach the people with SOP that gave the upper hand to the ruling parties.
“This experience shows us that we have to look at our shortcomings on all levels, including the president, and our relationship with our partner DAP and Amanah.
“We have to discuss to make things better, not point fingers at each other and capitulate to the demands of arrogant people,” he said.
Anwar, however, praised Maszlee for joining PKR despite the party suffering an embarrassing defeat in the Malacca state elections.
“A young leader who is full of potential has decided to join PKR and I admire his bravery and firmness in this situation, (while) certain individuals have been cynical against the struggle just because we lost in one state election.
“In politics, we shouldn’t rush to make decisions in panic. There will be no positive effect. The campaign in Malacca was out of the ordinary,” he added.
Anwar said he hoped with Maszlee joining PKR, it would breathe fresh air into the party, especially in Johor.
Meanwhile, Maszlee said he was driven by principles in making the decision, not rewards or financial gain.
The former education minister said his actions were different from that of a political frog who jumped from one party to another in pursuit of rewards.
“Why do I want to join a losing party, when even its president (Anwar Ibrahim) was attacked from various angles by opponents and friends? Even I was chided for joining the unpopular and weak PKR.
“This is the price of struggle. If frogs jumped from one party to another for positions and financial gain…but then when we join a losing party that’s in a weak position, it is not (as) a frog, but to defend the people. It’s also a struggle for the country,” he said.
Maszlee, citing principles, left Bersatu after Muhyiddin Yassin took it out of Pakatan Harapan to form the Perikatan Nasional coalition with Umno and PAS.
He, however, did not follow in the footsteps of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who set up Pejuang after being removed from Bersatu.
He chose to be an independent lawmaker.