The uncompromising stand taken by DAP and PKR in their squabble over seats in this state election exposed an inherent weakness in Pakatan Harapan (PH), the opposition front.
The embarrassing breakdown of their electoral pact showed that its unity was forged on a shaky partnership in which each party placed their own interest above their common goal of providing the people a viable alternative to Barisan Nasional (BN).
While there will always be jostling and elbowing for seats among partners of political coalitions, the difference between BN and PH is that BN could finally find a solution while in PH their impasse descended into open quarrels leaving their agreement on seats allocation in tatters.
It would be foolish to suggest that BN found a perfect answer to the clamour for seats among its component parties but it managed to hammer out a final list albeit without pleasing everyone.
The likes of independent candidates Liu Thian Leong in Batu Kawah, Dr Roland Matu in Mulu and Datuk Nyomek Nyeap in Serembu is proof of the unhappiness of unsuccessful aspiring BN candidates over the final list. When there were more than one person fighting for one vacancy this fallout of their contention is inevitable.
BN is a coalition of parties under one paramount leader – in Sarawak the chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
He has the final say in the selection of candidates no matter how unpopular his decision may be in some constituencies.
Ultimately in a situation where a leader cannot please everyone he has to please himself but to do that he must be given the absolute mandate.
This situation is mirrored in the animal kingdom where there would only be peace in a pack when it is dominated by an Alfa male.
However, PH is a pact of strange bedfellows comprising parties led by their own leaders without anyone with the absolute power to make the final position.
This was clearly seen in the inability of DAP and PKR to agree on the allocation of seats between them while DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and PKR president Azmin Ali watched helplessly.
The situation was so embarrassing to Lim that he was compelled to apologise to opposition supporters in the state but the damage had been done.
Even before the first votes were cast PH had already scored a few own goals and this coupled with the two seats BN had already won uncontested all but put paid to their chances of bettering their performance in the last state election.
The chief minister who is also the head of the state BN expects BN to win at least 70 seats in this election – that is being modest.
It looks very likely that PH would end up with fewer state seats than they had before this election.
It will continue to suffer the same troubles in future elections unless they can reduce the number of ‘tigers’ in their mountain.