PETALING JAYA: As the Opposition was left licking its wounds from the Johor state election debacle, Parti Amanah Negara says victory will be remote in the next general election if they do not unite to confront Barisan Nasional.

       “I would like to remind all (opposition) parties that if we continue to be divided while facing Barisan, we will be merely ‘going for a stroll’ (makan angin) en masse after GE15,” said Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

       He said there is an urgent need for the Opposition to find a way to reconnect and devise a common strategy to face the 15th general election.

       Mohamad said Pakatan Harapan accepts the result of the election with an open heart, attributing its defeat to the low turnout.

       “This factor caused the mixed community areas, which are strongholds of Pakatan, to suffer defeat. The second factor is the split within the Opposition.

       “To me, Barisan did not grow in strength, instead they benefited from such a significant split within the Opposition,” he said in a Facebook post.

       Opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in congratulating Barisan, said the Pakatan machinery had nonetheless worked hard during the campaign.

       “This decision is also an important reminder for political parties to regain their strength in the run-up to the next general election,” he added in a Facebook post.

       Pakatan Harapan won only 12 seats – 10 by DAP and one each by PKR and Amanah – in Johor.

       Meanwhile, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu who was quoted in Bernama said the party would continue to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as party chief and Perikatan Nasional chairman.

       Muhyiddin said on Saturday night that he was ready to step down as Perikatan chairman if it was what party members desired following its crushing defeat in Johor.

       Ahmad Faizal said a comprehensive study would be carried out to identify the factors which led to Perikatan winning only three seats – two by Bersatu and one by PAS.

       In a statement, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party accepts the results.

       “We will continue to reach out to the people based on the significant increase of support in most of the seats contested,” he added.

       Despite losing the deposits in the six seats it contested in the Johor polls, Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said that it is not the time for his party to give up but to be better prepared for GE15.

       “The election did not turn out the way we had hoped, but time was not on our side.

       “This is not the time for us to give up. It is the time for us to restrategise and march on to prepare for GE15,” said Shafie, who congratulated Barisan for its victory.