INTERVIEW | All opposition parties must be realistic and must also understand the true reality on the ground, said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s strategy and policy bureau head Rais Husin.

Although he did not mention any names, Rais said opposition parties, be it DAP, Bersatu, Parti Amanah Negara or PKR, need to understand their constituents.

“Overestimating support for themselves will make them complacent.

“If that happens, come the general election, the reality will bite and the pain will be felt vehemently,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini.

Citing one party which claimed that it had a considerable amount of support from the Malays, Rais said this would only make the party complacent.

“Come post-election day, the one who is going to be hurt the most is you, your party. Not only are you hurting the party, you are hurting the people as a whole.

“For the first time ever, people are really hoping for change. If you fail the people, shame on us,” he added.

Asked whether the problem was faced by all opposition parties, Rais said parties which had conducted sufficient research understood the things that needed to be done.

“Some of them who have an extra dosage of wishful thinking, they are in the area of complacency....