“What we need is a Malay-based party that’s inclusive and progressive, and that has all the attributes of a party of the future.”
“It must be positive in its outlook and eschew hatred and bigotry.”
He called for parties that care about the people, and that work to unite, not divide the nation.
Zaid was expressing happiness that inside sources had confirmed that Muhyiddin Yassin will head a new party.
“I was expecting Muhyiddin to hold a big celebration on Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of his dismissal from the evil government. “
“There was no such celebration. If there was one, I was not invited.”
Anyway, said Zaid, he was waiting to play golf with the new leader. “I understand he’s a very competent golfer.”
The former de facto Law Minister has gathered that Muhyiddin will lead an all Malay/Bumiputera party that will be somewhat similar to Umno. “This is a good development. It will broaden the Opposition coalition.”
His only concern about the new party is the willingness of the other Opposition parties to accept Muhyiddin as leader and Prime Minister-designate.
What the country needs is a leader and a future Prime Minister who can take over the administration of the country, added Zaid. “At present, Opposition parties lack one factor that’s crucial to their unity. They don’t have a leader.”
“The truth is they all think they are strong enough to unite the Opposition and stem the lack of mutual trust that has marred their collaboration. They are not.”
Opposition parties, he ventured, must learn to be humble and just say “we are here to help”. “They must make defeating Barisan Nasional (BN) their top priority.”
If Muhyiddin is the leader, then he must talk to all the relevant parties, including PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang, before giving his views, he ventured. “If Muhyiddin says the Opposition should include PAS, everyone must fall in line.”
“Likewise, if he says PAS is unreliable and is in cahoots with Umno, they must accept that position too and prepare themselves for three-cornered fights.”
He cited DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng’s idea that the Penang Assembly be dissolved.
He thinks this is something that the Opposition should support. If the Opposition cannot win a snap election in Penang at a time when the 1MDB Scandal was still fresh from the oven, said Zaid, then the likelihood is that they cannot win a General Election next year.
The Opposition should be guided by the judgment and wisdom of DAP, the party that has the most to lose in the state election if BN wins, stressed Zaid. “DAP’s partners should defer to and respect Guan Eng’s decision as Penang Chief Minister.”
“They somehow think they know better.”
There’s the issue of whether PAS should be allowed back into the Opposition to avoid three-cornered fights, pointed out Zaid. “If the Opposition has a strong leader then his or her views would hold sway in difficult decisions like this.”
Otherwise, he warned, the bickering will continue.