State PH urged to use PKR logo in coming polls

KUCHING: State Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leader Affendi Jeman is urging opposition parties in Sarawak to use Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) logo as their common symbol for the forthcoming parliamentary election.

“If political parties in Sarawak follow the same decision as in Peninsular Malaysia (using PKR logo), then there is uniformity in the opposition front.

“Uniformity will provide the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) a new breath of life when facing the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election,” he added.

The state PH should just follow the decision of the central group to show their unity and how solid they are, he added

“We must have a new agenda with unity in mind. At the moment the state opposition parties are a fragmented lot. It is therefore important for them to come forward and face the BN as one party using the PKR logo.”

Affendi’s concern is that PH in Sarawak is led by Democratic Action Party (DAP) as it holds more seats than PKR but PH in Peninsular Malaysia has decided to use PKR logo as a common symbol.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told a press conference in Parliament a few days ago that DAP would not mind using the PKR logo.

He said it was a hard decision to make since the DAP symbol was recognisable in every election since the 60s.

Lim, however, said PH would not mind the state opposition parties using DAP logo in the election if they wish to do so.

The rocket in DAP’s logo is one of the most recognisable political party symbols in Malaysia. DAP has made an appearance in every general election since 1969.

Lim, the Penang Chief Minister conceded that the move might have an impact on its long-time supporters.

“We cannot deny the impact, but it is important for us to not only have one-to-one fights with BN, but also to have one logo against BN since they have undemocratically and unjustly refused to register PH – the party and logo. We have no choice,” he said.

Lim said the difficult decision would mark the first time that DAP is contesting in an election without using its own logo.