The agreement contains the coalition’s guiding principles and outlines how decisions should be made and disputes resolved. It was supposed to have addressed the weaknesses that led to the failure of Pakatan Rakyat.
However, it now looks like all the work put into developing the agreement has been in vain. PKR and Sarawak DAP are engaged in a very public fight.
In recent weeks, PKR national leaders have been announcing where their party will contest in the Sarawak state election. In some cases, they have even named the candidates. This has enraged Sarawak DAP, with its chief, Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, saying on Wednesday that it wasn’t right for PKR to make the announcements while negotiations were ongoing.
Earlier, DAP’s Dayak leaders hit out at both local and national PKR leaders for their alleged lack of presence on the ground, inconsistent service and flirtations with PAS. They also pointed out that PKR lost many of its contests in the 2011 Sarawak election.
So where does all this leave Pakatan Harapan?
In jumping the gun with its announcements, PKR has shown that it lacks the sincerity that is essential in a political cooperation. DAP’s action of publicly running down its supposed ally would not help endear PKR to the voters either. It might even be to DAP’s detriment as well.
Above all, the two parties have shown that they cannot even adhere to the agreement they made. So much for political maturity.
All this infighting is happening at a time when their opponent in Sarawak is led by the hugely popular Chief Minister, Adenan Satem.
Adenan’s push for Sarawak autonomy, his stand on the English language, his recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate and his strong stand against illegal logging has won him many admirers.
It looks like Pakatan Harapan has blown a great opportunity offered by the Sarawak election to showcase its unity and political maturity. It should stop dreaming of sitting in Putrajaya if it can’t get its act together even for a state election. It has a long way to go to convince the people that it’s a better alternative to Barisan Nasional.
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