In recent weeks, Barisan Nasional component parties, particularly Umno, MCA and Gerakan had tried to fan discord and engender distrust among Pakatan Rakyat component parties but so far to no avail.
One favourite gambit of Barisan Nasional component parties is to accuse the Pakatan Rakyat component of being subservient to the other parties – betraying a mindset ingrained for over three decades of the real relationship in the Barisan Nasional between Umno and the rest in BN as well as reflective of a modus operandi in the BN which could not conceive of a coalition of political parties based on equality, mutual respect and commitment on agreed principles.
In recent weeks, different language media will carry statements like Umno accusing PAS of being afraid of PKR or DAP, of DAP being afraid of PAS or PKR, as well as of PKR being afraid of DAP or PAS.
This is course the only relationship the BN component parties could understand in the Barisan Nasional – the political hegemony of Umno over the other BN component parties with Umno undergirded by the factors of “the fear of the master” and greed. DAP is not afraid of PAS and PKR, PAS not afraid of DAP and PKR and PKR not afraid of DAP and PAS. This is not the basis of our co-operation and understanding in Pakatan Rakyat formed after the political tsunami of the March 8, 2008 general election to end Umno political hegemony and BN misrule.
Clearly, UMNO and BN component parties particularly MCA, Gerakan and MIC are very upset that Pakatan Rakyat component parties have been able to address teething problems in the new coalition, particularly in Penang and Kedah..
Pakatan Rakyat must demonstrate that it is different from Barisan Nasional and that problems in PR among component parties, national or state, and concerns and aspirations of the people are promptly addressed in a frank and forthright manner by PR leaders.
With the spirit shown by Pakatan Rakyat component parties to address the problems in Penang and Kedah, Pakatan Rakyat is sending a clear message that it is in the Malaysian arena to stay until the great political mission and the political yearnings of Malaysians for change are accomplished.