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GEORGE TOWN – After Pakatan Harapan (PH) inked the memorandum with the government, there is no longer a functioning opposition, leaving room for Warisan to play watchdog, said newly minted party man Datuk Danny Law Heng Kiang.
Law, who is a former DAP member, was hitting back at DAP’s P. Ramasamy for suggesting that Warisan will make better headway if it joined PH and not take in defectors from the coalition’s parties.
Law said in a statement that Ramasamy’s contention that DAP should hold a dialogue with Warisan since the latter is a former ally is futile.
Warisan is not a component of PH. We are only cooperating as an opposition bloc in Parliament for the benefit of the people. But we are not part of PH.”
He added that it is not right for DAP to advocate for the big-tent concept among the opposition yet throw its support behind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“DAP says the opposition must unite and yet DAP signed an MoU with the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (federal) government.
“The government MPs are backing the prime minister. Is DAP now trying to rope in all opposition MPs to support him as well?
“Who will remain as the opposition, fighting for the people?”
Aside from inviting Warisan to “join forces” with PH, Ramasamy yesterday said there is no need for the party and its leaders to “disturb the traditional support bases of DAP, PKR and Amanah”.
“Recruiting disgruntled former leaders of DAP or PKR might not do any good for the long-term relationship between Warisan and PH component parties.
Warisan must understand that without the support of PH, the constitutional amendments restoring the traditional rights of Sabah and Sarawak may not have materialised in the first place.
“Before further damage is done to the relationship between Warisan and the PH, there is an urgent need for serious dialogue. Such a dialogue will serve to define and demarcate areas of work and prepare all the parties not just to face the election in Johor, but also the impending general election.”
Law was a DAP member for 35 years, and recently joined Warisan with other former party colleagues, such as ex-Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi and ex-Penang DAP chief of staff Martin Lim.