GE15: Collaborate or lose, pundits tell Pejuang

SHAH ALAM- Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad might have the power to bring political parties Warisan, Muda, and Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan Nasional) together despite past grudges.

Expert says each political party has their own personal vendetta to win in the 15th General Elections (GE15) and this would only be made possible if they contested together as one team.

Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azizuddin Mohd Sani said Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (PEJUANG) must join hands with any political party for GE15.

"Pejuang is a new party so if they contest alone once again, they will face the same situation as in the Johor state election where all of their candidates lost their deposits.

"To avoid the same situation, they are looking for a new partner because it's clear, Pejuang is aware that they cannot succeed without collaborating with other parties," the Universiti Utara Malaysia told Sinar Daily.

Political Analyst Prof Ismail Sualman from Universiti Insitute Teknologi Mara (UiTM), meanwhile, said that there would be some hurdles and judgments by the voters for Pejuang to collaborate with other parties, namely Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

"For example in Johor polls, there was some competition between Bersatu and Pejuang.

The results showed Pejuang lost in Johor," "If Bersatu is with Pejuang or vice versa, maybe the voters will judge them as something is wrong somewhere.

"Also, I don't think either Pejuang or Bersatu will merge in competing Umno," he said. He also said that most of the supporters are less in interest with Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and that was one of the reasons for Pejuang's defeat in the recent Johor polls. "Malays in the village are quite allergic with Pejuang because they assume it as a recycle and mainly political sentiments with personal issues so if Dr Mahathir steps down, his position will be replaced by his son, Mukhriz," "In order for Pejuang to go further, either they have to restructure the top-leadership or join hands with another political party," he said.

Meanwhile, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Dr Azmi Hassan said it would be suicidal if Pejuang rejected Bersatu or Pas cooperation, was to contest in the GE15 solo as their influence were minimal.

"Pejuang is a new party but its leadership is veterans in politics. "They need to know that if they go solo this time, there might be a similar nightmare as in the Johor polls," Azmi said, adding that there was an unlikely that despite the party's collaboration and cooperation with Pas, Bersatu or Pejuang could be Umno.