Wan Fayhsal must admit Bersatu weakest link in PN, says PKR leader

Summary

• PKR’s Najwan Halimi says Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal must admit Bersatu is the weakest party in the Perikatan Nasional coalition, lacking grassroots support and relying heavily on PAS voters.

• Wan Fayhsal says PN needs to discuss its prime minister candidate internally, respecting PAS leader Hashim Jasin’s suggestions while acknowledging the importance of internal unity.

• Najwan criticises Bersatu leaders, including their president, for being ineffective in Parliament and lacking the credibility to be prime minister candidates, suggesting they should focus on being a credible opposition rather than resorting to divisive rhetoric.

Bersatu supreme council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal must admit that his party is the weakest link in Perikatan Nasional, said PKR’s Najwan Halimi.

The Kota Anggerik assemblyperson was responding to Wan Fayhsal naming four PAS and one Bersatu leader as potential PN prime ministerial candidates.

Wan Fayhsal’s suggestion followed remarks by PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin for the Islamist party to lead the opposition coalition.

Taking to X, Najwan (above, right) said Wan Fayhsal must admit that Bersatu does not have grassroots strength.

“This is evident as Wan Fayhsal himself had to rely on PAS’ supporters in PAS’ stronghold Machang to become its MP.

“Until today, Bersatu is seen as a weak party in PN. It’s no wonder that Wan Fayhsal was desperate to reply to Hashim and proposed Bersatu leaders as potential prime minister candidates to stay relevant,” he said.

Malaysiakini reported Wan Fayhsal as saying that PN component parties should discuss who is to be their prime minister candidate, stressing the need for it to be done internally.

“The issue now is, I believe we can have such a discussion but it has to be done internally. We should have it, because if we do not discuss then we will have distrust and differences that are taken outside, which is unnecessary.

“But I respect Hashim’s opinion, I have no problem with it. Just that this should be discussed internally,” Wan Fayhsal said.

No credible leaders

The Machang MP also said PN needed to choose its prime minister candidate from among leaders who have good ties with the Malay rulers and named Muhyiddin Yassin, Hamzah Zainudin, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as those fit for the post.

Najwan, however, opined that most Bersatu leaders in Parliament have proven to be ineffective and non-progressive as an opposition.

“Even the president himself lacks the courage to take responsibility as the leader of the opposition in Parliament. Perhaps he is afraid to face (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim.

“It would be better for Wan Fayhsal to advise the Bersatu leadership to play a role as a credible opposition rather than just peddling rhetoric and playing on racial sentiments in Parliament.

“He needs to acknowledge that, as of today, Bersatu has no leaders with the credibility to be presented as a candidate for prime minister,” Najwan added.

PAS has 43 parliamentary seats in the Dewan Rakyat to Bersatu’s 25.

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