Better off for Bersatu associate wing to form own party, says analyst

 

FMT:

Better off for Bersatu

associate wing to form own

party, says analyst

Faiz Zainudin

-20 Oct 2024, 08:45 AM

UM’s Tawfik Yaakub says it could try its luck to join PN because it is presently only a ‘token’ within Muhyiddin Yassin’s party.

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The Bersatu associate wing enjoys little popularity or visibility in the political arena, says Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya.

PETALING JAYA: 

Bersatu’s associate wing for non-Bumiputera members will be better off becoming a party on its own and joining Perikatan Nasional rather than remaining in the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party, says an analyst.

Universiti Malaya’s Tawfik Yaakub said the associate wing had little popularity or visibility in the political arena, and was perceived as simply riding on Bersatu’s coat-tails.

Tawfik said election results show that the non-Bumiputera wing has been unable to win the community’s backing, and that it was solely dependent on Bersatu’s overall strength.

“This associate wing is merely a token to give the perception that Bersatu celebrates ethnic diversity.

If Bersatu really wants to attract non-Malay support, this isn’t the way to go about it. Look at how Umno embraces other ethnicities, by way of the other components (MCA and MIC) in Barisan Nasional,

 he told FMT.

Even then, Tawfik said, Gerakan has also struggled to woo the non-Malays for PN, failing to win a single parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15) and only managing to secure one state seat in Kedah last year.

Last week, the Bersatu associate wing’s vice-chief, R Sri Sanjeevan, said the wing had set its sights on achieving its maiden election win in GE16, having failed to win a single seat in GE15 and the 2023 state elections.

The former PKR man said the wing would focus on non-Malay majority seats in Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Selangor and Penang to break its losing streak at the polls.

While Tawfik believed this was a pipe dream, Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Ariff Aizuddin Azlan said Bersatu’s non-Bumiputera wing could spring a surprise in GE16.

However, he said, the branch needed a change in leadership style, become more organised, and must hold a survey of non-Malay voter sentiments and demands to achieve this.

The current political scenario depends on shaping perceptions,

 he said.

The Bersatu associate wing was formally established in 2021 in hopes of attracting non-Malay support.

Its chief, Chong Fat Full, had faced calls to step down during its convention last year over the election defeats. Nonetheless, he defended his party post for the 2024-2027 term uncontested last week.