Pakatan Harapan needs to show more tangible results, especially in terms of the economy, if it does not want to suffer another crushing defeat like that sustained in yesterday's Cameron Highlands polls, a PKR leader said today.

According to Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Harapan has mostly itself to blame for the loss.

"The biggest weakness is our inability to show a better vision for the future, for the people in Cameron Highlands, and for Malaysians in general.

"We still have not shown Malaysians why they should vote for us, for the sake of a more thorough and inclusive economy.

"The bottom 40 percent (B40) and middle 40 percent (M40) income groups in the country cannot live on sweet words alone – they need benefits that can be measured," he said in a statement.

Nik Nazmi, who sits on PKR's central leadership council, thus called on Harapan to return to its election manifesto.

"Although we cannot fully implement the policies mentioned in the manifesto, it should reflect philosophies that are focused on the rakyat at large, and not towards a small target group.

"In the coming weeks and months, Harapan would need a clear narrative to ensure people that we are still worthy to be the ruling government.

"Harapan will fail if we do not speak in a single voice. We must start performing for the rakyat, especially in terms of the economy," his statement read.

This, Nik Nazmi pointed out, is especially crucial with the burgeoning cooperation between Umno and PAS.

"They are now one and the same. The results in Cameron Highlands should push Harapan to work harder, especially when the Semenyih by-election is just around the corner."