An academician today called on Pakatan Rakyat to address contentious issues raised by disgruntled current and former representatives, rather than keep sweeping them under the carpet.

Dr Sivamurugan Pandian from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said Pakatan shall not pretend that "all were well in the coalition".

"In the end, the truth would come back to haunt the coalition for failing to address and tackle the issues now," he told Malaysiakini .

He said recent road shows carried out by Pakatan leaders during the Chinese New Year open houses demonstrated that they were unwilling to address issues raised by disgruntled party representatives.

He was referring to the recent public outburst by PKR parliamentarians Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim Bandar Baru), and former PKR Penang leader and now independent Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim.

Tan and Zahrain have criticised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng leadership, while Zulkifli had suggested PKR to severe its political ties with the DAP.

Sivamurugan is of the opinion that there would be "no smoke without fire".

"Surely these parliamentarians would not have questioned Lim and his party without substance, notwithstanding whether they were frustrated politicians or have personal agendas.

"Their allegations have damaged Lim, DAP and Pakatan to certain extent," he said.

He said Pakatan leaders, especially from DAP, can't always go on counter attacking their critics with their offensive salvoes.

DAP strong because MCA, Gerakan weak

The academic warned that excessive politicking would backfire on Pakatan in the long run.

"Pakatan can't allow these clashes of personalities and distrust among component representatives to prolong.

"Pakatan leaders must accept reality that being ruling parties in certain states, they are not immune from criticisms," said the deputy dean of USM's School of Social Sciences.

He said Lim and DAP were strong among the Chinese community partly due to current political fragility of MCA and Gerakan.

However, he warned that DAP would be given be a run for its money once the Chinese-based BN partners regain their political foothold.

Sivamurugan stressed that due to this future prospect, it was vital for Pakatan to address and tackle all issues raised by its representatives at national and state levels before it was too late.