The first Pakatan Harapan convention, which took more than a year to put together after the coalition was formed, was meant to chart a course for the fractured opposition.

However, after the convention, the opposition’s direction has not become any clearer.

Furthermore, mixed signals came out from the convention, such as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad stressing that his party president Muhyiddin Yassin was committed to joining hands with Pakatan Harapan, but the latter announced a postponement on formalising the cooperation.

The postponement was expected, as it was reported yesterday that Muhyiddin may be trying to work out a deal with PAS before inking the deal with Harapan.

Muhyiddin confirmed he was in talks with PAS but denied that it was the reason for the postponement.

In contrast, Mahathir was hardly diplomatic, taking a veiled dig at PAS by suggesting that those against Harapan may have taken ‘dedak’ (animal feed) and are in cahoots with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Even on Harapan’s prime minister, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Salahuddin Ayub proposed that the coalition should name an interim candidate, but Mahathir said now wasn’t the time.

Capitalising on the mixed signals, BN leaders said this reflected why the divided opposition cannot lead.

“Mahathir now talks about one party, one symbol, one manifesto. This is what the opposition has been talking about since 1999.

“But after 17 years they still cannot get it done. Talking about it is simple. Doing it is another thing altogether.

“The opposition is not united on many things so how can it come to an agreement on one party, one symbol, one manifesto?” said Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

He added that all the parties in Pakatan Harapan as well as Bersatu also have separate agenda, with the latter only interested in ousting Najib as prime minister.

“PKR is about freeing Anwar Ibrahim from jail and making him prime minister.

“Amanah is a party of disgruntled PAS members who tried but failed to oust Abdul Hadi Awang.

“DAP, on the other hand, is a party that wants to see the emergence of a Malaysian Malaysia, which most Malays, even those in the opposition, cannot accept,” he said.

This, ultimately, means that Harapan will not be able to come out with a proper common manifesto, he said.

Salleh also criticised Mahathir’s veiled attacks on PAS, likening to the US doctrine of ‘if you are not with me then you are against me’ which he said had wreaked havoc on the Middle East.

‘Mahathir appears to be backtracking’

Meanwhile, MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari gloated at the opposition’s inability to name its prime minister candidate.

Vell Paari said it also appeared to be a backtracking by the 91-year-old Mahathir, who had previously suggested Muhyiddin as prime minister.

While Harapan wants Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, the jailed PKR de facto leader will be banned from joining politics for five years upon release.

He was jailed for five years in February last year for sodomy, a charge he claimed was politically motivated.

“They can’t even decide who to lead them in facing the next general election.

“They might as well just appoint Mahathir as the de facto leader of Harapan and tell the rakyat that Mahathir will be the Harapan prime minister candidate if they win the next election,” he said.

He added that ultimately, Harapan’s convention today appeared to be more about taking down Najib than about the welfare of the people.

In contrast, Vell Paari said Najib has ensured a respectable growth of the country’s economy despite the difficult global economic situation.