Former Subang Jaya assemblyman Lee Hwa Beng said the coalition would lose the next election if it continued to “depend on racial politics”.
The GE14 results showed that the people did not vote along racial lines, rejected racial sentiments and voted for PH based on a single logo, Lee told FMT.
“The last-minute change of using PKR’s logo as a common logo for PH in GE14 was indeed confusing. But the fact that PH still won shows that people voted based on the PKR logo and not their choice of a candidate.
“Do you think PKR could have won if people voted based on the candidates who were fielded? No, because one-third of the candidates were unknown and ‘useless’.
“Same goes for PPBM and Amanah, and similarly for some candidates fielded by DAP,” said Lee, a former MCA Central Committee member who was sacked by the party in 2013.
He said if PH wanted to survive the next general election, it would need to merge all component parties and stand as a multiracial party instead of as a coalition.
“That is the way to go and the nation is ready for it. DAP can see it, and given a say, I think Dr Mahathir (Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad) wants a multiracial party.
“Maybe PPBM and PKR are not ready, but I hope they can see that they will not pull through one more general election if they continue to play the racial card.
“The people have given their mandate for colourless politics. I hope PH notices this too and respects what the people have voted for,” he said.
Mahathir beholden to two warlords – DAP and PKR
Lee said PH should welcome into its fold the new Sarawak coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, as a way for Mahathir to break DAP and PKR control over PH.
“Right now, Mahathir cannot say much as he is beholden to two warlords – DAP and PKR. But if GPS joins PH, it is strong enough to overshadow PKR.
“That should send a signal out to PKR telling it not to be too arrogant in this political climate,” said Lee.
PKR must not follow Umno’s past practices in BN (of trying to dominate its partners), otherwise it would create an unhealthy political landscape, Lee said
He added that GPS would be able to strengthen the multiracial element should PH component parties merge into a single multiracial party.
“But PH needs to do it before Mahathir steps down as PM,” he said, as it could not be carried out without “a strong-enough leader”.
Four Sarawak-based parties left the state BN coalition this week, effectively rendering BN non-existent and formed GPS, comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP).
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