YOURSAY 'Amanah replaced PAS in Pakatan Harapan, so it must run in coming by-elections.'

Dr M urges one-to-one fights to beat BN at by-elections

Pemerhati: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has his own selfish agenda and it will not benefit Pakatan Harapan, which should use this opportunity offered by the two coming by-elections to gauge its own strength, and use the results to plan its strategy for the important forthcoming general election.

At this point in time, no one knows for sure how the majority of Malays are going to vote, especially after learning about the 1MDB scandal and that PAS is cosying up to Umno, and is very keen on implementing hudud.

The billion ringgit question is, will they vote like the Sarawak rural voters or will they vote like the enlightened voters of more developed and mature democratic countries?

Since Amanah has replaced PAS in Pakatan Harapan, it is logical that Amanah should contest in all, or in most of the seats that were previously contested by PAS.

If Pakatan Harapan does not contest in the two by-elections, it will miss a golden opportunity to get a lot of useful information, which it could use to prepare for the forthcoming general election.

Ksn: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, what did you and PKR learn from the Sarawak elections, and the split you caused there within the opposition? Your call here is silly, to say the least, after the damage you caused in Sarawak.

Spinnot: How to fight one-to-one? PAS' body is with the opposition but its soul is with Umno Baru.

Quigonbond: Azmin, don't try to get everyone to return to the table and at the same time. Send out your lieutenants to demonise DAP as a Chinese based party. Personally, it would be disastrous for Harapan and PAS to join forces just because you want to beat BN in these by-elections.

It will just reek of expediency and opportunism. I'd implore parties to consider the longer term goal here. Let PAS go it alone and rise and fall with these by-elections. Stay out and let PAS run the show this time, so that in GE14 you can cash in on the quid pro quo and get them to stay out of Harapan's turf.

The electorates will understand simple arithmetic and will punish PAS if they contest against Harapan then. If PAS wins, then there is real chance to beat BN in GE14, in which case, herd mentality will result in people voting for the opposition en-bloc, in part, to check PAS.

If Harapan participates in the by-elections, either against or supporting PAS, then we won't have the clarity we need.

Keng Liang: To defeat scandal-stained Umno/BN in these two by-elections, let PAS contest in one seat and the Amanah the other. In this way, they will not split each other's votes,and may have a better chance to defeat Umno/BN.

If PAS under its president Abdul Hadi Awang refuses to cooperate, then Harapan will have no choice but to fight it out in three-cornered by-elections. However, the chances of defeating Umno/BN will be less.

Unspin: PAS, under Hadi, has said many times that its raison d’etre is to implement hudud in Malaysia. To achieve its objective, it's willing to work with the devil and will not hesitate to betray anyone who stands in its way.

Harapan – comprising DAP, PKR and Amanah – should look forward to and prepare for the next general election, and not be tempted to work with PAS again, just to prove a point to Priem Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

If Azmin insists on working with PAS (because he owes them a favour after being made MB of Selangor), tell him to go fly a kite. In a three-cornered fight, Amanah or PKR, with the support of DAP, can win the two by-elections because PAS might split the votes of Umno, instead of the other way around.

Anonymous_1371547149: I'm sure PAS will not back down. So it looks like Azmin will insist that Harapan steps back and let PAS battle with Umno. Unfortunately, that is not the aspiration of the rakyat. That is the aspiration of Azmin. The Chinese will come out and vote for BN. And Najib can then claim that the Chinese vote has swung back to BN.

Anonymous_1375151044: Unseating BN? These are strange words from Mahathir, who had led the coalition for more than 22 years. But you can see and feel the pain in his statement. These are words he is reluctant to use. But with the country going downhill towards bankruptcy, no thanks to his "protege", what choice does he have?

We understand Tun, we understand. You don't have to feel bad about it. You are only trying to correct a grave mistake. We can only hope it's not too late - and that you will succeed.

Anonymous_1371965487: Mahathir's movement will be bad for the country. As a former prime minister, he should be more understanding of what democracy is. If Mahathir wants to change the government, he must follow democratic processes and await the next election, in line with Malaysia's laws and the Federal Constitution.

Anonymous _4313: He behaves like a godfather. He speaks as though he is the main reason other leaders are where they are. Previously, he said that Najib grew in the ranks of politics because of him. The latest is that he says Ahmad Zahid Hamidi became a minister because of him. Well, Malaysia is also rotten because of you, Mahathir.

Anonymous_1421406986: What has come of him? Whatever he once detested has become OK with him today. This man has definitely been hiding a double personality, hiding the true side of himself, one for the public, and the other his true self.

So he was never genuine to the nation during his 22-year rule. Who do we blame? Hussein Onn, as he now blames himself for appointing Badawi and thereafter Najib? I have never seen any former prime minister of Umno president with such vengeance in his system.

Vans: I respect Mahathir but the trouble is that almost everything he accuses Najib of, and the government of, he had done when he was in power – detaining people without trial, bailouts, mega projects. He even joined a street demonstration.

Pahatian: I do not concur with Mahathir. The seats are traditionally PAS seats and I do not foresee PAS giving up its seats to Harapan because it does not want to be seen to be working with DAP, a component part of Harapan.

So let Amanah or PKR battle it out with Umno and PAS. Those that have voted for PAS in the last election, especially the non-Malays, will ditch PAS this time around.

With the issues of GST and scandals of 1MDB and the PM, many would also be ditching Umno for the opposition. Go for it, Amanah, and forget about PAS coming into the picture.

Fear: PAS will pretend to be part of the opposition during elections. After winning, it will join BN in the name of Malay unity.

Fairnsquare: PAS, the Trojan horse of Umno, will contest to split the votes. Thus, a vote for PAS is a vote for BN, thus a vote for 1MDB. This must be stressed at all campaigns.

Anonymous #19098644: A big turnout is crucial for the opposition to have a fighting chance. If turnout is low, the game is over. BN and Najib have so many scandals, but Sungai Besar is the stronghold of Umno and is the most rural part of Selangor.

To defeat Umno can be done, but it is an uphill task. Getting the young to vote is crucial, for the old folks are already brainwashed to vote the dacing. The opposition must penetrate every Indian and Malay kampung and bring the truth to the people. Only then can there be victory.

Airplayer: Don't worry, Dr M. PAS wants to stand. PAS is the unofficial Umno. Let PAS field its candidates. Pakatan Harapan must definitely field its candidates. The Malay votes will be split into three. The non-Malay votes will mostly go to Harapan.

Observer123: A few days ago, at the "Save Malaysia" ceramah in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, you said that in order to save BN, the people must defeat Najib. Now you are saying we must defeat BN in the twin by-elections.

Your contradictory statements, in only a few days, not only confuse the people but are also a big letdown to your supporters. I suggest you should be more consistent in your public statements in your campaign to defeat Najib.

Kuasa Rakyat: PAS = Umno already. So let Amanah fight it out with Umno/PAS.

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