The Malaysian Insight

DAP grassroots have urged the party to snub Anwar Ibrahim after the opposition leader’s failure to defeat Budget 2021, said sources.

Party insiders told The Malaysian Insight despite DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke defending the PKR president’s stand, certain quarters feel strongly about his removal.

“There is a lot of anger from among the grassroots. They have been biting their tongue for a while now while Anwar is flirting with Umno but yesterday was the last straw. Heads must roll,” a party leader told The Malaysian Insight.

On Thursday, the Supply Bill was passed at the policy stage by voice vote, after an insufficient number of MPs stood up to request a division vote where ballots are individually counted.

Several MPs, including Loke, said they received last-minute instructions from Anwar to stand down during the division vote request.

Commenting on this, Anwar admitted yesterday that it was his decision to instruct Amanah and DAP chiefs not to vote against Budget 2021 on Thursday.

He said this was to allow MPs to study Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz’s announcement of more goodies closely.

The Malaysian Insight, however, learnt that the DAP grassroots have urged their leaders to break ties with PKR or at least push for Anwar to resign as opposition leader.

Sources said this was not the first time Anwar has caused problems for DAP, with the first time being in February when he forced the party to reject cooperation with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Anwar made DAP leave Dr Mahathir last February. He pushed the party to leave the old man, just for the sake of him becoming prime minister. That plan failed miserably.”

Another incident was when Anwar called for a press conference during the Sabah election campaign claiming he had a “strong, formidable and convincing” majority to take over Putrajaya.

“Then came the big speech about a strong, formidable and convincing majority, two days before Sabah elections, when we were busy campaigning. Nothing came out of it.

“Now he has apparently given this silly instruction, which makes DAP look like fools,” the source said.

Among the concerns from the DAP leaders are how voters would perceive them in the next general election or even the party elections at year-end.

“Grassroots writing in Chinese on social media are seriously urging the party to leave Anwar. They are firm this party cannot be taken for a ride,” another source said.

DAP’s Selangor leader Teng Chang Kim also took a cryptic swipe at the party leaders to assume responsibility for the fiasco on Thursday.

“When a decision right or wrong, sparks the outrage of the people, a courageous and responsible number one shall come forward, at the first instance to account for it, not the scapegoat,” he posted on Facebook yesterday.

The Bandar Baru Klang assemblyman was alluding to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who told his 42 MPs to stand down after receiving instructions from Anwar.

According to party insiders, the relationship between Lim and Teng have been strained for the past two decades.

They also said Lim is handing over the reins to Loke and former political secretary Tony Pua ahead of the party elections in December.

“Guan Eng is technically no longer the functioning secretary-general. He is getting Loke to start taking over, issuing important statements.

“He even got Tony Pua to post the ‘go to hell’ Facebook status,” the source said referring to the Damansara MP’s rebuke last month against former prime minister Najib Razak.

Despite that, some members warned Lim if no action is taken soon, he might not even make it to the top leadership.

“With all this nonsense, Guan Eng might not even make it to the top 20,” the source said.

Anwar issued last-minute instructions verbally to top party leaders, including Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu and Lim to not participate in the vote.

Only 13 lawmakers from the opposition stood up to urge for a division vote. They were Dr Mahathir and three other Pejuang members and nine Amanah members, including Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar.

Amanah president Mohamad and his deputy Salahuddin Ayub did not stand.

DAP lawmakers as well as independents Maszlee Malik and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman also remained seated. – November 28, 2020.