Not surprising for Malay votes to swing away from not only PH-BN but also PN

Not surprising for Malay votes to swing away from not only PH-BN but also PN

WITH the “green wave” now debunked, it is not surprising that Perikatan Nasional (PN) may find itself losing huge number of Malay votes to the independent candidates and even smaller political parties such as MUDA and PSM (Parti Sosialis Malaysia) in the six state polls on Aug 12.

The electorate may not necessarily shift their votes to UMNO due to their disappointments in the party that they had once supported. Their votes went to PN thinking that PN could meet their aspirations.

Unfortunately, PN lost the opportunity to form the unity government that the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) had in mind following the outcome of discussions between block leaders.


The campaign by PN – in particular by PAS candidates – have all started on the wrong footing. Leveraging the strategy of fitnah (slander) politics, a number of them find themselves having to apologise after their lies were being exposed.

It was different in the previous general election when PN was in power and they could get away with it. With the unity government now in power, these PAS leaders may end up being prosecuted if they chose not to apologise.

After all, they can ill-afford to be found guilty for their wrongdoing as this would disqualify them from contesting.

In short, they are forced to apologise publicly because they knew that the lies they were telling the people could not be backed up with facts.

Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was ever willing to swim against the tide but lacked the political wisdom and savviness to harp on issues that are close to the hearts of the people.

Even though it is so obvious that he had offended the Sultan of Selangor, Sanusi remained recalcitrant and was still unwilling to plead guilty.


Raw in politics

As pointed out by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Sanusi’s official apology to the Sultan is inconsistent with his plea of not guilty in court. It is either that Sanusi’s apology was not done out of remorse or he is still choosing to prove he had not offended the Sultan.

Looking at the facts, Sanusi will have a tough time to defend himself in court. Assuming that he wins, his uncouth actions would still be deemed uncalled for in the eyes of the Malays who are loyalists to the Malay ruler.

Insulting the Sultan is an offence punishable with death during the era of Hang Tuah. And being a Malay himself, Sanusi should have realised it.

While the trial will only begin after the state election (on Oct 4 to be precise), the PAS/Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director will find himself at a great disadvantage because he is seen as one who had gone against the five principles enshrined in the Rukun Negara, in particular the first principle, “Loyalty to the King and Country”.

While some still argue that Sanusi is a jaguh kampong (literally ‘a village champ’), he stands to pay a very high price judging by the way he wants to project himself.

If convicted, he may even lose his qualification to remain as an incumbent state assemblyman or should he win the contest in his constituency of Jeneri in the upcoming state elections.

One should not forget Sanusi’s rise to power only came as a result of the collapse of the Kedah state assembly after the Sheraton Move. His experience holding such a senior position as MB is as good as nil.


Declining moral support

In all fairness, the number of controversies that Sanusi was involved in during the past three years are enough to damage PAS’ reputation as a national party seeking to run the country as part of the federal government in Putrajaya.

To many people in Selangor, Sanusi reminds voters of the likes of Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos. Jamal, however, has remained silent – hopefully, becoming more sober – after UMNO joined Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form the unity government.

Both Jamal and incumbent DAP Sekinchan state assemblyman Ng Suee Lim have agreed to bury the hatchet in politics. He was quoted by The Star as saying, “I was born in Sekinchan and have been here all through. I can vouch that Sekinchan has developed manifold under YB Ng Suee Lim”.

Of late, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is also in a limbo with his number of corruption charges that he has to defend in court. He thus passed on the role of Opposition leader to the coalition’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

Meanwhile, PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang has been too unwell to continue harping on the 3R (race, religion and royalty) sentiments.

The only other person who thought he could attract Malay votes is the former twice premier. However, he has offended a number of people – from the Sultans and their loyalists to the ordinary Malays themselves by frequently calling them “lazy”, something that Anwar has refuted vehemently.

For that reason, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s performance in the Langkawi parliamentary seat by having been defeated and lost his deposit at the same time during the 15th General Election (GE15) was a major embarrassment for the nonagenarian who was a former UMNO president, a former Bersatu chairman and a former Pejuang founder. – July 21, 2023