LETTER | I refer to the Malaysiakini’s news PKR stands by 'Harapan consensus' to back Anwar as PM, rejects Dr M's hat-trick bid.

What is the “Pakatan Harapan consensus”?

Is it to back Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister? Or is the consensus to restore Malaysian voters’ mandate in the last general election, by unseating an illegitimate government who has no qualms to use all means currently to stay in power?

DAP and Amanah, both who are critical parts of the Harapan coalition have openly stated that PKR needs to work with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who crucially has Warisan’s support to restore Malaysian voters’ mandate.

Both parties have also indicated that the option of Anwar as prime minister does not work, due to the lack of support from Warisan.

However, instead of acting in the best interest of Malaysians, PKR has unfortunately chosen to put its own interest above Malaysians’ interest as a whole by stomping its feet like a child, insisting that its president be made the prime minister.

PKR has also indicated that they will be prepared for a snap election despite knowing very well that a general election in this Covid-19 climate is the worst possible time for Malaysians to vote for a new government.

This is disappointing, to say the least. Because not only PKR has chosen to put its interest above the nation instead of working with its partners to restore Malaysians’ mandate, it has also chosen to prolong the stalemate and expressed its intention to drag Malaysians into another period of uncertainty unnecessarily, knowing very well that the country is going through its worst possible time in history.

Frankly, Malaysians are sick and tired of the Anwar and Mahathir debacle. Malaysians do not care who the next prime minister is.

All we care about is, how will Harapan consolidate and present a united front so that at the minimum, it could form a strong opposition to hold the current Muhyiddin Yassin government accountable to its recent actions and decisions until the next election.

In the best-case scenario, Malaysians would also like Pakatan Harapan Plus to unseat the current government so that Malaysians’ mandate could be restored and Harapan Plus can continue to fulfill its election manifesto.

But PKR does not care. And PKR does not want to listen. Not even to its own coalition partners. It does not matter to PKR that most Malaysians don’t care about politics at the moment, too.

By PKR choosing to continue behaving like a child, despite it not having the numbers nor support to back its proposition for Anwar to become the prime minister, PKR has chosen to give an illegitimate government more sweet time to consolidate their position, reward their supporters with appointments, as well as to figure out ways to exonerate corrupt politicians and related parties from being charged and tried to the full extent of the law.

And it will continue to happen, the current government will continue to do so to further strengthen their political and personal goals.

But PKR does not care. Not at least until Anwar becomes the prime minister, anyway.

Let us let PKR’s current action be recorded as a pivotal part of Malaysian history for everyone to remember.

When more corrupt politicians are released or exonerated from criminal charges, when government-linked companies reward fat unjustifiable contracts to selected politicians or related parties, Malaysians will remember this.

And point to PKR to remember that it was because of Anwar’s selfish ambition who refused to listen to his coalition partners, and has preferred to put his own self-interest above Malaysians.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.