Infighting and quit rent woes may bite Penang PH, say analysts
5 hours ago
Dineskumar Ragu
Rafizi Ramli is viewed as being mistreated by PKR, while other voters may be upset by the continuing feud between Lim Guan Eng and Chow Kon Yeow
PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and DAP’s Chow Kon Yeow and Lim Guan Eng are at the centre of controversy in their parties.
GEORGE TOWN: The internal tensions of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) component parties may weaken the coalition’s performance when elections are held in Penang, say political analysts.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said infighting in PKR, and the view that former deputy president Rafizi Ramli is being “mistreated” by party leaders, would affect the coalition’s standing among Penang voters.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said infighting in PKR, and the view that former deputy president Rafizi Ramli is being “mistreated” by party leaders, would affect the coalition’s standing among Penang voters.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.
“PH is seen as being ‘too harsh’ on people like Rafizi, to the extent of placing under intense pressure through investigations those who are viewed as having spoken out against PH’s interests while in government,” he told FMT.
Rafizi, who is Pandan MP, is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in an investigation into a deal made with UK-based chip designer Arm Holdings when Rafizi was economy minister.
Rafizi has described the investigations as being politically motivated, given his criticisms of the government and MACC and its former chief commissioner Azam Baki.
He and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said on Sunday that they would quit PKR and vacate their seats. They said they would officially join Parti Bersama Malaysia on Tuesday.
“PH is seen as being ‘too harsh’ on people like Rafizi, to the extent of placing under intense pressure through investigations those who are viewed as having spoken out against PH’s interests while in government,” he told FMT.
Rafizi, who is Pandan MP, is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in an investigation into a deal made with UK-based chip designer Arm Holdings when Rafizi was economy minister.
Rafizi has described the investigations as being politically motivated, given his criticisms of the government and MACC and its former chief commissioner Azam Baki.
He and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said on Sunday that they would quit PKR and vacate their seats. They said they would officially join Parti Bersama Malaysia on Tuesday.
Wong Chin Huat.
Political scientist Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University said the infighting in DAP, especially between Lim Guan Eng and Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, would not sit well with voters.
“I doubt Lim’s relentless attacks on his successor, similar to how Dr Mahathir Mohamad criticised other prime ministers, would go down well with voters,” Wong said.
He said Chow and Penang DAP chief Steven Sim may win sympathy votes if they played their cards well.
Although non-Muslim and liberal voters in Penang would be unlikely to vote for Barisan Nasional or Perikatan Nasional, they may consider abstaining from voting altogether, he said.
Fauzi and Wong said a public outcry over increased quit rent rates in Penang may hurt DAP and PH, with Wong saying that it came at a time when Malaysia is experiencing the ripple effects of the Middle East conflict on its economy.
Fauzi said while the Chinese-majority seats on Penang island are safe for PH in GE16, the coalition is vulnerable in Seberang Perai seats with significant Malay majorities, unless internal tensions within Bersatu significantly split the Malay vote.
Wong also said seats with substantially fewer Chinese voters are most likely to change hands due to either a vote swing or voter abstention.
“This might include Bukit Tengah, Bagan Dalam, Perai, Jawi in Seberang Perai, and Sungai Pinang and Datok Keramat on the island. But the main determinant could be the timing of the elections,” he added.
Fauzi suggested that PKR patch things up with the Rafizi-led faction, now that Azam is no longer helming MACC and that there is no need to “beat around the bush in the fight against corruption”.
A recent report by Singapore’s Straits Times quoted anonymous DAP sources as saying PH is likely to lose its supermajority in Penang, with the coalition expected to win only 23 of 40 state seats in the worst-case scenario, and that DAP may lose its unbeaten streak in some of the 19 seats it has dominated since 2008.
Chow has played down the report, saying elections are ultimately a “numbers game”.
Political scientist Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University said the infighting in DAP, especially between Lim Guan Eng and Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, would not sit well with voters.
“I doubt Lim’s relentless attacks on his successor, similar to how Dr Mahathir Mohamad criticised other prime ministers, would go down well with voters,” Wong said.
He said Chow and Penang DAP chief Steven Sim may win sympathy votes if they played their cards well.
Although non-Muslim and liberal voters in Penang would be unlikely to vote for Barisan Nasional or Perikatan Nasional, they may consider abstaining from voting altogether, he said.
Fauzi and Wong said a public outcry over increased quit rent rates in Penang may hurt DAP and PH, with Wong saying that it came at a time when Malaysia is experiencing the ripple effects of the Middle East conflict on its economy.
Fauzi said while the Chinese-majority seats on Penang island are safe for PH in GE16, the coalition is vulnerable in Seberang Perai seats with significant Malay majorities, unless internal tensions within Bersatu significantly split the Malay vote.
Wong also said seats with substantially fewer Chinese voters are most likely to change hands due to either a vote swing or voter abstention.
“This might include Bukit Tengah, Bagan Dalam, Perai, Jawi in Seberang Perai, and Sungai Pinang and Datok Keramat on the island. But the main determinant could be the timing of the elections,” he added.
Fauzi suggested that PKR patch things up with the Rafizi-led faction, now that Azam is no longer helming MACC and that there is no need to “beat around the bush in the fight against corruption”.
A recent report by Singapore’s Straits Times quoted anonymous DAP sources as saying PH is likely to lose its supermajority in Penang, with the coalition expected to win only 23 of 40 state seats in the worst-case scenario, and that DAP may lose its unbeaten streak in some of the 19 seats it has dominated since 2008.
Chow has played down the report, saying elections are ultimately a “numbers game”.
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Guanee just can't 'let go' of his erstwhile powers as CM Penang - I'm gonna blame him if the DAP loses the next Penang state election.
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