Pejuang more likely to team up with PN, say analysts
Ahmad Atory Hussain says an alliance between newly registered Pejuang, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre), and Perikatan Nasional cannot be ruled out. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Political analysts say it will be difficult for a newly registered party like Pejuang to win the 15th general election (GE15) and govern the country by itself, even if it is led by a statesman like Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Ahmad Atory Hussain said that looking at the current political landscape, he would not rule out Pejuang forming an alliance with Perikatan Nasional (PN) after GE15.
He also expects the four Pejuang MPs to vote in support of Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister if a confidence motion is tabled when Parliament reconvenes on July 26.
This support could come in response to the government’s decision to approve Pejuang’s registration, Atory said.
PETALING JAYA: Political analysts say it will be difficult for a newly registered party like Pejuang to win the 15th general election (GE15) and govern the country by itself, even if it is led by a statesman like Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Ahmad Atory Hussain said that looking at the current political landscape, he would not rule out Pejuang forming an alliance with Perikatan Nasional (PN) after GE15.
He also expects the four Pejuang MPs to vote in support of Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister if a confidence motion is tabled when Parliament reconvenes on July 26.
This support could come in response to the government’s decision to approve Pejuang’s registration, Atory said.
Ahmad Atory Hussain.
“Mahathir is also worried that if his party does not support Muhyiddin, the PKR president (Anwar Ibrahim) will become the prime minister, which is why Muhyiddin approved the registration of Pejuang,” he said.
Asked if Pejuang would be able to win in GE15, he said that while the former prime minister’s aura was not as strong as before, he still had influence.
“Since he does not want to rest, there will still be support from some people who are obsessed with him,” he said.
Analyst Salawati Mat Basir of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) shared Atory’s views.
“Mahathir is also worried that if his party does not support Muhyiddin, the PKR president (Anwar Ibrahim) will become the prime minister, which is why Muhyiddin approved the registration of Pejuang,” he said.
Asked if Pejuang would be able to win in GE15, he said that while the former prime minister’s aura was not as strong as before, he still had influence.
“Since he does not want to rest, there will still be support from some people who are obsessed with him,” he said.
Analyst Salawati Mat Basir of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) shared Atory’s views.
Salawati Mat Basir.
“Pejuang is expected to work with PN rather than with Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Harapan (PH),” she said. “Even the former party that he founded, Bersatu, is in the coalition, so the possibility of Pejuang working with PN is high.”
Salawati said that despite Pejuang’s registration, the party could face a negative perception from the people following Mahathir’s failure to fulfil all of PH’s election promises after leading the government for 22 months.
Meanwhile, a political analyst from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Azizuddin Mohd Sani said it was difficult to predict which party or parties Pejuang would work with, as Mahathir’s political moves were tough to read.
“Pejuang is expected to work with PN rather than with Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Harapan (PH),” she said. “Even the former party that he founded, Bersatu, is in the coalition, so the possibility of Pejuang working with PN is high.”
Salawati said that despite Pejuang’s registration, the party could face a negative perception from the people following Mahathir’s failure to fulfil all of PH’s election promises after leading the government for 22 months.
Meanwhile, a political analyst from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Azizuddin Mohd Sani said it was difficult to predict which party or parties Pejuang would work with, as Mahathir’s political moves were tough to read.
Azizuddin Mohd Sani.
“If Mahathir works with Anwar again, I will not be surprised. He may also collaborate with Warisan or MUDA,” he said.
“Mahathir working with Umno-BN, even with the court cluster leaders, is also not impossible if there is mutual agreement. Even with PN, it is not impossible, because after Umno withdrew its support for the PN government, Bersatu will need his backing.
“Mahathir is politically efficient, he can find a way to compromise with the enemy, to work together and win in the GE.”
Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, also of UUM, said with Mahathir’s vast experience, no one should underestimate his ability to pull off surprises.
“If Mahathir works with Anwar again, I will not be surprised. He may also collaborate with Warisan or MUDA,” he said.
“Mahathir working with Umno-BN, even with the court cluster leaders, is also not impossible if there is mutual agreement. Even with PN, it is not impossible, because after Umno withdrew its support for the PN government, Bersatu will need his backing.
“Mahathir is politically efficient, he can find a way to compromise with the enemy, to work together and win in the GE.”
Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, also of UUM, said with Mahathir’s vast experience, no one should underestimate his ability to pull off surprises.
Kamarul Zaman Yusoff.
“It is possible that even if Pejuang goes solo, Mahathir could have informal cooperation with certain parties to enable its chances of winning to increase
“However, Pejuang’s strength revolves around Mahathir’s personal influence, which means it is only really able to make a major impact in his home state of Kedah,” Kamarul said.
He said PH’s inclination towards Anwar as the prime minister elect meant Pejuang would be expected to lean towards PN if the coalition gave Mahathir a role in the government.
“It is common knowledge that Mahathir will not allow Anwar to rise as prime minister. In this alignment, it is likely that the PN coalition would have a better chance of winning than PH,” he said.
“It is possible that even if Pejuang goes solo, Mahathir could have informal cooperation with certain parties to enable its chances of winning to increase
“However, Pejuang’s strength revolves around Mahathir’s personal influence, which means it is only really able to make a major impact in his home state of Kedah,” Kamarul said.
He said PH’s inclination towards Anwar as the prime minister elect meant Pejuang would be expected to lean towards PN if the coalition gave Mahathir a role in the government.
“It is common knowledge that Mahathir will not allow Anwar to rise as prime minister. In this alignment, it is likely that the PN coalition would have a better chance of winning than PH,” he said.
Pribumi split from UMNO, team up again with UMNO.
ReplyDeletePejuang split from Pribumi, team up again with Pribumi.
Pusing-Pusing
Only Anwar was stupid enough to believe the old fool.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, Anwar deserved to get himself shafted. I believe his daughter was so frustrated that she resigned all her positions then.
let's not scratch our heads and end up with Einstein's hairdo, it's as certain as the sun will rise in the east, scumbag, matthias now insist, is going to helm bersatu and by extention pn again, another little giveaway is when he announced without anyone asking, the fm is 'soliciting' his vast experience, to pre empt any suspicion for now
ReplyDeleteeff-ing frightening
Delete