PH leaders disagree with "defeatist" Nurul Izzah

SHAH ALAM - Several PH leaders have disagreed with the assessment made by Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar that the coalition will take a longer time to retake back Putrajaya.

This follows after Nurul Izzah, a former PKR vice president, said PH need at least five years or two general elections before it can be the government once again.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said coalition leaders need to differentiate between being realistic or being a "defeatist".

"She is being realistic looking back at the Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka and Johor state election losses. So she is being realistic about the coming general election and the next one that there is the possibility we could not win.

"She believes in being realistic but at the same time unaware that she is portraying a defeatist attitude by admitting defeat before the battle,'' he said to Sinar Harian on Thursday.

The Kulim Bandar Baharu MP also stated that the defeatist attitude could impact the morale of party members and the people.

He added that such thinking will cause fence voters not to vote for the coalition.

"Now the script is to woo fence voters. But fence voters will not support parties who say they can't win,'' he said.

Commenting further, Saifuddin said taking into account PKR's success in the previous general election, the party's recent losses in various state elections should not be used as justification to lose hope.

"For example in 2004, PKR is only left with one seat. At the time all political analysts said that PKR will simply die. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was just released from prison at the time was also suggested that he should just retire.

"If PKR has taken such a defeatist attitude, PKR will not be able to win 32 seats in the 12th general election,'' he said.

Saifuddin said that the party's downfall in 2020 was not because it was rejected by the people but because of the actions of a few of its MPs who had switched sides.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad also believed that there are still options and strategies that PH could utilise to win the coming general election.

"We do not deny the result from the Johor and Melaka by-election showed that there is a lack of support from the people.

"But at the same time we have to take into account the low voter turnout and there are tactics and strategies that we need to reevaluate in facing the general election.

"We should not be too quick to admit defeat because there is still a lot to be done,'' he said.

Kahlid also stated that the coming general election should not be taken lightly as it can negatively impact the nation's economy and political landscape.

Weighing in on the matter is also DAP central committee member Howard Lee who disagrees with Nurul Izzah's assessment as he takes into account recent events in politics and the implementation of Undi18.

However, Lee stated that the assessment could be made to spur new ideas in PH including expanding cooperation with other parties while offering a new deal to the people.

"If she asses that we could lose in this election then we have to work hard to that we don't suffer a defeat.

"But I would like to raise a question on how such an assessment will help in our efforts to do so?'' he asked.