There is basis to Pakatan’s declining popularity, says Saifuddin

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan should be more open on former PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s view that the ruling coalition’s approval rating has been on the decline, says the PKR secretary-general.

Datuk Saifuddin Nasution said Pakatan leaders should not be too emotional as “there is basis to his (Rafizi’s) remarks and findings.

“He feels that it is as if there is an uncertainty or loose focus from Pakatan in implementing what we pledged before the general election,” he said in an interview with Astro Awani yesterday.

Rafizi had claimed in an open letter that the post-election euphoria in favour of Pakatan was running out fast and that the approval rating of the federal government since Pakatan took power in May had been plunging rapidly.

In June 2018, when asked to rate Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s performance in a survey conducted by Invoke which was founded by Rafizi, 72% Malaysians approved with the Chinese community rating him highest at 87%, followed by the Indians at 84%, with Malay respondents giving him a high 66% rating.

In a similar survey conducted two weeks ago, Dr Mahathir’s approval rating as PM plunged to 53%.

The survey indicated a consistent 20% drop across all races – Malays (from 66% to 45%), Chinese (from 87% to 65%) and Indians (from 84% to 64%).

Saifuddin, who is the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, said in general, support had waned for Pakatan. “This gives the chance to the opposition to blow up racial and religious sentiments.

“And we can see now, with issues involving LGBT, child marriage and even female circumcision. This has pushed down our reform agenda.

“Although the bigger success is to end a kleptocratic government, the rakyat is fed with issues scripted by the opposition,” he said.

DAP national legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh urged all Pakatan parties to focus on delivering pledges made.

“Let me remind you, what’s going on is dire. What’s going on is a new Pakatan government failing,” he said in a statement.