Don't rush GE16, or risk getting 'shocked to death' - PKR MP tells Anwar

A PKR leader has called on Pakatan Harapan to serve out its full term in government before dissolving Parliament for the 16th general election.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim warned that PKR, in particular, risks being “shocked to death” by defeat if it moves ahead with an early general election.

“Tell (PKR president and Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim clearly that, from a political strategy perspective, it is the right choice for the Madani government to govern until the end of its full term if PKR and Harapan want to win GE16.

“If they want to lose, then call GE16 suddenly and PKR, in particular, will be ‘shocked to death’ by the defeat,” Hassan (above) said on Facebook.

Hassan justified his call, warning that an early GE16 could deepen the impact of consecutive defeats in Sabah, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan, leaving the federal administration, as well as PKR members and supporters, demoralised and directionless.

On the other hand, he said that if it is held 12 to 18 months from now, voter fatigue will gradually ease and the momentum of opposition parties will weaken with time.

“Does time not heal wounds? From an economic perspective, it would also be beneficial for PKR and Harapan if there is a longer period, such as 12 to 18 months.

“During this time, more positive foreign direct investments can enter the country,” he added.

‘Public anger will ease’

Hassan believes that, over the next year or so before GE16, public anxiety and anger will subside as Anwar’s macroeconomic policies will begin to deliver more reassuring outcomes for Malaysians.

READ MORE: PAS leader predicts BN-PN peninsula sweep, says alliance can win GE16

“At that point, dissolve the 15th parliament when the people can see that Malaysia’s economy is truly on the right track.

“After losing the Negeri Sembilan state government in the recent election, and having previously suffered defeats in Johor and Sabah, it does not mean that PKR is finished.

“So, do not cry, PKR. You are a reformist party. It would be shameful to cry. We are a movement built on struggle. We dare to fight, we dare to win, and we dare to be defeated!

“Let PKR MPs leave the party one by one because they see this ship as sinking. But PKR still has MPs who remain loyal through times of ease and hardship, and who are not afraid to defend the Madani government in the Dewan Rakyat,” Hassan added.

Hassan also called on PKR members not to lose hope or become demoralised despite the party’s recent electoral setbacks.

He said that PKR still has a future because it was founded as a multiracial party representing Malaysians of all backgrounds, rather than one based on race.

“Convince our leader Anwar not to act hastily. Tell Anwar not to call GE16 in the near future.

“Give Anwar the encouragement to govern Malaysia well until the full term of the mandate, which is until the end of 2027 or early 2028,” Hassan added.

BN-PN wave

In the recently concluded Negeri Sembilan polls, BN and Perikatan Nasional managed to consolidate Malay votes and bagged 25 seats for a two-thirds majority in the state, while Harapan was relegated to 11 seats.

PN’s seven seats were split between PAS’ four and Parti Wawasan Negara’s three.

Umno secured 16 seats for BN, while MCA won the remaining two.

READ MORE: BN-PN 'Malay unity' wave coming, and Harapan is in danger

Bersatu, the PN component which was left out of the BN-PN alliance and had to fend for itself using its own flag, was completely wiped out.

In a major upset for Harapan, former menteri besar Aminuddin Harun and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke both failed to secure the Linggi and Chennah state seats, respectively.

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has already signalled that they intend to continue cooperating with PN in the upcoming Malacca state election.

It is also expected that they may force Anwar’s hand for a snap general election.

Adopt right strategy

Meanwhile, Hassan urged Harapan to adopt the right campaign strategy rather than repeating the approach taken in the Negeri Sembilan election, where the issue of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Tabung Haji was raised, which he considered ill-timed.

"PKR members and Harapan supporters will be upset with me for saying this. Take the Tabung Haji RCI, for example. Why reveal it only when the Negeri Sembilan election was approaching? It had been completed years earlier.

"So, when it was disclosed just before the election, with two days left before polling, people can see what is behind it. The people are not stupid. They can see there is an ulterior motive. It just doesn't look good.

"If it was really ready, then table it. Why wait? In the end, was it to protect Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, or the Umno leadership whose cases received a DNAA (discharge not amounting to an acquittal), or what?" Malaysia Gazette reported Hassan as saying in a separate event in Pasir Gudang.

He lamented that despite this, BN still went against Harapan, saying that Anwar got backstabbed despite his kindness.

"Anwar is simply too kind. He was trying to spare their feelings by not revealing the RCI, for fear of upsetting his partners in the coalition.

“But what happened in the end? How was it in Johor? How was it in Negeri Sembilan? Anwar's goodwill was not reciprocated," Hassan added.

Harapan can perform in Malacca

On the impending Malacca polls, Hassan said Harapan is capable of mounting a formidable challenge, claiming that this is because Umno is not strong at the state assembly level.

He based his prediction on the results of the 15th general election, in which Umno failed to win a single parliamentary seat, arguing that this indicated the party was not particularly strong at the state level either.

"PAS at least won two parliamentary seats (in GE15), while the DAP and PKR won one seat each.

"So, if Umno is not strong enough to win parliamentary seats, it means its position at the state assembly level is not that strong either and it can be challenged," he added.

Hassan said his confidence was also based on PKR's track record, citing former Malacca PKR chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin's two victories over then-chief minister Ali Rustam in the Bukit Katil parliamentary seat, which was later renamed Hang Tuah Jaya, in successive general elections.

As such, he said Harapan and PKR must formulate the right strategy and avoid repeating the mistakes that led to their defeats in the Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan elections.

"Show good performance. Don't adopt fanciful strategies, such as talking about forming the state government.

“Don't do that; people will just laugh. What is more important is to win more seats," Hassan said.

The former Johor PKR chairperson also suggested that the Harapan election director for the Malacca polls be chosen from among local leaders, rather than following the approach taken in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state polls, which were headed by Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

"Let the Malacca state election be led by people from Malacca. Let Amirudin rest for now. When the campaign begins, Anwar, as usual, can come down to campaign," Hassan added.

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