FMT:
PH needs to adopt right-wing approach to win Malay support, says analyst
James Chin says although this may disappoint the coalition’s supporters, it is a necessary move.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania says PH has to move ‘further to the right’ with more Islamic and pro-Malay policies to woo conservative Malay voters.
PETALING JAYA: The results of the six state elections have shown that Pakatan Harapan needs to adopt a more right-wing stance to appeal to conservative Malay voters, says an analyst.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim needs to support conservative policies to gain political support at the expense of his progressive voter base.
PETALING JAYA: The results of the six state elections have shown that Pakatan Harapan needs to adopt a more right-wing stance to appeal to conservative Malay voters, says an analyst.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim needs to support conservative policies to gain political support at the expense of his progressive voter base.
James Chin.
“He has to move further to the right with more Islamic and pro-Malay policies. This could be bad because it might mean he will isolate or disappoint PH supporters.
“But with this sort of results, he really has no choice,” Chin told FMT.
In the state elections, Perikatan Nasional won 80% of the seats contested by BN, while making major inroads in traditional PH strongholds.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said PN’s strong performance, including in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, meant that it can be expected to come back stronger in the next general election.
“He has to move further to the right with more Islamic and pro-Malay policies. This could be bad because it might mean he will isolate or disappoint PH supporters.
“But with this sort of results, he really has no choice,” Chin told FMT.
In the state elections, Perikatan Nasional won 80% of the seats contested by BN, while making major inroads in traditional PH strongholds.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said PN’s strong performance, including in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, meant that it can be expected to come back stronger in the next general election.
Oh Ei Sun.
With PN dominating over Umno, Oh said, the coalition could employ the narrative that the majority of the Malays in the country are on its side, and not on the side of the Anwar-led government.
This could pose a problem for the federal government, he said.
“For example, if you keep on (playing this narrative) to MPs currently supporting the unity government, their support might be shaky and they might swing (their support) to PN,” he said.
For now, although Umno’s position within the federal government has been “dented”, it is still secure, as PH needs the party despite its dwindling Malay support.
With PN dominating over Umno, Oh said, the coalition could employ the narrative that the majority of the Malays in the country are on its side, and not on the side of the Anwar-led government.
This could pose a problem for the federal government, he said.
“For example, if you keep on (playing this narrative) to MPs currently supporting the unity government, their support might be shaky and they might swing (their support) to PN,” he said.
For now, although Umno’s position within the federal government has been “dented”, it is still secure, as PH needs the party despite its dwindling Malay support.
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