Ismail does not need to be an instigator - Mahfuz

SHAH ALAM - Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar has criticised former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for trying to trigger a fight between Umno and Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders who formed the unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.

Mahfuz said Ismail who was a veteran in politics and once held the vice-president post in Umno, should instead become a peacemaker and advise all Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH MPs to increase their cooperation to face the upcoming state elections soon.

"The relationship between PH and BN is not a forced marriage. It is instead an arranged marriage or matchmaking by the bride and groom's parents, in this case (the parents are) the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The love between the couple can only blossom after they got married.

"So, if there's a small misunderstanding and arguments, it should be considered as a normal thing in marriage and they should not make a huge fuss over it.

"Therefore, as an elder in politics who once held the position of prime minister, Ismail should be a mediator instead of an instigator trying to destroy the love built between PH and BN," he told Sinar Premium.

Previously, Ismail was reported to have likened the cooperation between PH and BN as a forced marriage and it will not succeed if there was no love between the top leaderships or at the grassroots level.

The Bera MP said cracks were starting to show in the cooperation as the party members were openly attacking each other in the public domain.

Mahfuz however believed that the verbal war between Umno and DAP leaders will not cause the coalition government led by Anwar to split up and collapse in the near future.

"InsyaAllah, this problem will not cause the current government to collapse as verbal wars are the norm of a household, just like in politics.

"In fact, there are differences of opinions and small disputes in political parties such as in Umno and even PH, as this is part of the political norm," he said.

Arguments

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar believed that the verbal war between Umno and PH leaders through the media will not cause the uinity government to collapse because all BN and PH MPs were bound by the Anti-Party Hopping Act.

Hisommudin said the dispute instead illustrated how there were several elected representatives from both parties who could not accept the fact that the two political enemies had joined hands.

He said the verbal war was expected to disrupt the pace and preparations of PH-BN to face the state elections that will be held in 100 days.

"It will be troublesome if these voices keep on being loud as all BN and PH members and leadership should speak in the same tone.

"This may cause BN loyal supporters to feel hesitant in accepting the coalition and to vote for PH candidates if the seat allocations were handed over to them or vice versa," he said, predicting that it would almost be impossible for BN and PH candidates to clash in any seats in the upcoming state elections.

Hisommudin said the issue of Umno insisting that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be granted a royal pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would also shake the confidence and support of PH voters.

This, he said was because the prosecution and imprisonment of Najib and the individuals responsible for 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund embezzlement case were one of the political issues used by PH in the previous election campaign.

However, Hisommudin said after forming a coalition government in Putrajaya and the issue of Najib's royal pardon had arised, a dilemma was created and affected the support pattern of their supporters in the next state elections.