Breakdown among Pakatan Rakyat Johor is proof that the Opposition cannot work together

The actions of Johor Pakatan Rakyat in competing with each other for seats in the next General Elections until they have fallen out with each other exposes the truth about Pakatan Rakyat – that they are only working together for their own political interests.


The actions of DAP Johor State Chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hao refusing to obey the gag order on seat negotiations with PKR Johor shows that when the three parties bonded together to form Pakatan Rakyat during the 308 General Elections, the alliance was only for them to fight their way into Putrajaya. Although Pakatan Rakyat often gives the impression of a peaceful coexistence between each other, but Dr Boo Cheng Hau’s actions in revealing his displeasure with PKR Johor in public once again highlights the differences in opinions between the parties.

This is not the first time a breakdown of negotiations between DAP and PKR has happened. During the Sarawak state elections, PKR Sarawak had refused to make way for DAP thus resulting in three cornered fights in some constituencies. Pakatan Rakyat parties will not be able to resolve the distribution of power between themselves and will fail to reach a consensus.

Similarly, even if Pakatan Rakyat were to take over the Federal government, they will still be unable to reach an agreement on who shall hold the position of Prime Minister thus resulting in the serious possibility of an internal split in the foundations of Pakatan Rakyat.

It is not difficult to understand that they can never win if they fight as individual parties, thus they were forced to band together despite not having a common political ideology which them causes a serious conflict of interest between the three parties with PAS constantly adhering to its stand of setting up an Islamic state which goes against DAP resulting in both these parties having to compromise just to gain political advantage.

Chua Tee Yong
Member of Parliament for Labis
Chairman of MCA Young Professionals Bureau