KUALA LUMPUR: The fiasco during the Negeri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan) convention involving Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) members demonstrated the lack of understanding among the opposition leaders and its members.
Umno Supreme Council Member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the chaos showed that the opposition leaders have failed to recognise the voice of the grassroots.
“Everything they accused us (Barisan Nasional) of, they are doing it better. The fiasco in Negeri Sembilan showed that the leaders don’t represent the voice of the grassroots.
“There is no understanding between the leaders and the members,” he said when contacted.
On Sunday, some 50 PPBM members objected to Pakatan’s seat distribution in the state for the 14th General Election.
Chaos erupted when the coalition president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was giving her speech at the convention, where PPBM members shouted “ini tidak adil” (this is unfair).
Prior to her speech, the pact’s chief secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah announced that of the 36 state seats in Negeri Sembilan, 12 would be contested by PKR, 11 by DAP, seven by Parti Amanah Negara and six by PPBM.
Nazri further said the commotion also proved that PH leaders don’t include the opinion of its members when making decisions.
“It also means that all decisions in the opposition were made only among the leaders without taking into account what the grassroots wants,” he added.
Following the disorder, the convention, which was scheduled to end at 3pm was adjourned immediately.
Jempol PPBM division head Amiruddin Aman who led the protest said the distribution was completely unfair and they were dissatisfied, claiming the seats given to the party are ‘black’ areas or difficult to win.