SIBU: Pakatan Harapan seems to be a fragile pact to PBB vice-president Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who commented yesterday that the group would be more fractious than before.
“Their differences are getting worse. While the hudud hassle is reduced, as PAS is no longer there, the other differences are still present and will intensify.
“Within PKR the ‘Azmin vs Azizah tussle’ is still brewing. Wan Azizah despite being national president of PKR does not have full command over the Selangor PKR.
“Most of her actions are deemed to encroach on and regarded as anti Azmin.
“The Azmin faction does not take to Wan Azizah,” Talib, who is Assistant Tourism Minister, told The Borneo Post.
The Jepak assemblyman noted while DAP was playing a game of “you lead and we follow” it was now increasingly perceived as using PKR and Mat Sabu for its own domination of the group.
So the drama, twists and turns would intensify, he added.
“They would forge the pact for election purpose. Expediency. But beyond that they would continue to differ and bicker.”
He was asked if the new ‘outfit’ Pakatan Harapan formed by PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) would be able to mount a serious challenge to BN, especially in the coming state election.
Meanwhile, state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said though the outfit might be new the ‘operators’ were the same group of people.
“And now there are the splinters of the original PAS and obviously that will reduce their strength and we are not unduly worried about their challenges as we have prepared hard for any eventuality this coming state election,” Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications), added.
On the other hand, Kakus assemblyman Datuk John Sikie Tayai opined there was no way that the group could set aside their differences as their goals and what they really wanted were not the same.
“For that, the opposition will never come to an agreement,” he said.
“l don’t see they can really pose any serious challenge to BN as the people especially the rural people still want and still believe that only BN at the moment can bring changes and developments to them,” the Assistant Minister of Local Government said.
Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee was unperturbed by the latest political development.
“There just had been too many pacts formed such as Pakatan Rakyat and now, Pakatan Harapan.
“I don’t think they will have any impact on the coming state election,” he said.
On former PKR Sibu chairman Simon Tiong’s expressed intention to contest in Nangka, Dr Annuar said in a democratic country anyone could contest in an election.