Let us move on, as there is no time to lose on polemics to rekindle hopes among Malaysians who want change that such a possibility is still alive and relevant in the 14GE through an alignment of political forces

I like what the PAS MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusuf Rawa describe as the political scenario facing the country today, when he quipped: “We need to die to be reborn, to live anew.” (Malaysiakini)

This is close to the Chinese saying, 置之死地而后生zhì zhī sǐ dì ér hòu sheng.

This is the reason for the decision taken by the DAP Central Executive Committee last night, arising from the PAS Muktamar motion to cut PAS ties with the DAP as well as the repeated violation of the Pakatan Rakyat Common Policy Framework and the consensus operational principle, Pakatan Rakyat has ceased to exist.

The decision that PR has ceased to exist is not an act of defeatism but one to recognise the present reality buoyed by hope and confidence in the future.

In the past few months, the hopes of Malaysians to see the end of UMNO/BN rule in Putrajaya, a change of Malaysian national scene and the release of new Malaysian energies arising from such a change, suffered setbacks with the numerous differences among Pakatan Rakyat parties.

Much as Malaysians want to see political change and an end to Umno/BN rule in Putrajaya, the people want a new political coalition based on principles and the people’s interests like the Pakatan Rakyat Common Policy Framework and not on sheer opportunism for the selfish interests of power, office or money-making opportunities.

In view of the PAS Muktamar motion for PAS to cut ties with DAP and the violations of the PR Common Policy Framework and the PR consensus operational principle, Malaysians must now move on as there is no time to lose on polemics so as to rekindle the hopes of Malaysians who want change and assure them that such a possibility is still alive and relevant in the 14GE.

The immediate challenge is a realignment of political forces to keep alive the hopes and dream of Malaysians for an end to UMNO/BN rule based on the Pakatan Rakyat ideals of national unity, justice, freedom and human dignity.

Muhahid is right when he said in his interview with Malaysiakini: “Pakatan is just a name. What is more important is the substance.”

The greatest challenge facing Malaysians who want political change to take place in the 14GE is to rekindle the people’s hopes that such change is still within reach in the next general election by a realignment of political forces, even if there is no Pakatan Rakyat.