PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) women’s wing Srikandi will embrace with ‘an open heart’ criticisms towards the party by fellow Pakatan Harapan (PH) members.
The wing’s chief Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said today that since the 14th general election, the ruling PH coalition has had to put up with swipes both from external quarters and from within PH.
“(In the) seven months Pakatan Harapan has held the reins of power, there has not been a time when we have not been (lambasted).
“It is not enough that there are (potshots) coming from enemies on the outside. Friends within also took shots. Sometimes, we become confused as to who is the enemy, who is the friend.
“In light of the culture of (sniping at one another) on social media that was practiced by the (previous government), we accept (and forgive open-heartedly) when friends inadvertently get caught up in friendly fire,” she said.
Rina, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, was speaking during her speech before the commencement of the Srikandi debate during Bersatu’s second annual general assembly at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here, today.
Also present were Srikandi deputy chief, Shamsilah Siru.
Recently, members of PH component parties were dragged into a public spat over the issue of whether P Waytha Moorthy should resign as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Bersatu’s youth wing Armada chief and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman even became entangled in a verbal spat with Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and DAP member P. Ramasamy over the matter.
Meanwhile, in her speech, Rina said that PH’s electoral victory was the result of unity among all PH component parties in electing the leadership.
“Pakatan Harapan won on the shared aim of toppling a kleptocratic regime. The unity of Srikandi in galvanising the movement is testament of our loyalty to the party’s cause.
“A party is strong (when it holds to the saying) ‘Bertelingkah bukan berpecah, berbalah bukan mematah’ (roughly translated as: “Disagreements should not lead to division among members”).