PKR’s logo move a risky gambit in Johor polls, say analysts
Azmi Hassan and Sivamurugan Pandian say PKR’s strategy to use its symbol instead of the Pakatan Harapan logo in Johor will raise questions about the coalition’s unity. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: PKR’s recent mauling in the Melaka and Sarawak state elections could be the reason for the party deciding to use its symbol instead of the Pakatan Harapan logo in the upcoming Johor polls, but it’s a strategy that analysts say may go wrong.
Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said it was odd that the lead party in the coalition opted to use its own symbol while the other two use the coalition logo.
“If PKR says that it can attract more people especially the Malay voters by doing this, I don’t think the strategy is going to work. The party has actually put itself in a disadvantageous position by doing this.
“The leaders must understand that it was more than the logo that led to poor performance by PH parties in the Melaka and Sarawak state elections,” he told FMT.
PETALING JAYA: PKR’s recent mauling in the Melaka and Sarawak state elections could be the reason for the party deciding to use its symbol instead of the Pakatan Harapan logo in the upcoming Johor polls, but it’s a strategy that analysts say may go wrong.
Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said it was odd that the lead party in the coalition opted to use its own symbol while the other two use the coalition logo.
“If PKR says that it can attract more people especially the Malay voters by doing this, I don’t think the strategy is going to work. The party has actually put itself in a disadvantageous position by doing this.
“The leaders must understand that it was more than the logo that led to poor performance by PH parties in the Melaka and Sarawak state elections,” he told FMT.
Azmi Hassan.
Asked if the Anwar Ibrahim-led party was using this as an “experiment” to see if it can do better by subtly distancing itself from DAP, Azmi believed it was not the case. He said the party had been adamant from before that it wanted all PH candidates to use the PKR symbol based on its success in the last general election (GE14) in May 2018.
“I don’t think they are trying to distance themselves from PH or DAP or preparing to work towards a new realignment after the results. Some of the leaders have been making this demand for many months,” he said.
Asked if the Anwar Ibrahim-led party was using this as an “experiment” to see if it can do better by subtly distancing itself from DAP, Azmi believed it was not the case. He said the party had been adamant from before that it wanted all PH candidates to use the PKR symbol based on its success in the last general election (GE14) in May 2018.
“I don’t think they are trying to distance themselves from PH or DAP or preparing to work towards a new realignment after the results. Some of the leaders have been making this demand for many months,” he said.
Sivamurugan Pandian.
Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said GE14 was about “anything but Barisan Nasional” while in the Johor elections, the dynamic had changed – BN now appeared to be in pole position in the Johor elections.
“We are seeing a host of different issues post-GE14. The strategies have changed, with many political parties fighting for survival. PH appears to be sending out a signal that they are not united and the perception is that there is no consensus,” he told FMT.
Sivamurugan said supporters of DAP and Amanah will question PKR’s move and wonder if they can be trusted.
“How will the opposition present a candidate for chief minister in its campaign? It will confuse the people to an extent, and this needs to be clarified. Some will ask why PH was formed in the first place,” he said.
He said Umno’s sole aim of calling for the elections was to kill off Bersatu, knowing that they nearly did that in Melaka. “If it was not confident of winning, the party would not have called for the snap polls.”
According to Sivamurugan, many PH supporters during GE14 switched to PN in the Melaka polls and that gave BN a great advantage with the votes for its rivals being split.
“This could happen again in Johor. The state elections will be a testing ground for many reasons.
“We will know how the Undi18 voters choose and if the Melaka polls win was just a flash in the pan for BN. And for PKR and PH, they will know if the logo used had any impact on the voters,” he said.
Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said GE14 was about “anything but Barisan Nasional” while in the Johor elections, the dynamic had changed – BN now appeared to be in pole position in the Johor elections.
“We are seeing a host of different issues post-GE14. The strategies have changed, with many political parties fighting for survival. PH appears to be sending out a signal that they are not united and the perception is that there is no consensus,” he told FMT.
Sivamurugan said supporters of DAP and Amanah will question PKR’s move and wonder if they can be trusted.
“How will the opposition present a candidate for chief minister in its campaign? It will confuse the people to an extent, and this needs to be clarified. Some will ask why PH was formed in the first place,” he said.
He said Umno’s sole aim of calling for the elections was to kill off Bersatu, knowing that they nearly did that in Melaka. “If it was not confident of winning, the party would not have called for the snap polls.”
According to Sivamurugan, many PH supporters during GE14 switched to PN in the Melaka polls and that gave BN a great advantage with the votes for its rivals being split.
“This could happen again in Johor. The state elections will be a testing ground for many reasons.
“We will know how the Undi18 voters choose and if the Melaka polls win was just a flash in the pan for BN. And for PKR and PH, they will know if the logo used had any impact on the voters,” he said.
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