Doubts over PN’s
leadership, stability after
backing Mahathir’s
campaign
Political analyst Jayum Jawan says support for the “Malay power” campaign reflects unresolved power struggles between Bersatu and PAS.
PN’s move clearly shows that there are unresolved issues between Bersatu and PAS, the two key member parties of the coalition, says Academy of Sciences Malaysia fellow Jayum Jawan.
“It also signals a lack of confidence in the coalition’s current leaders, particularly PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin,” he told FMT. He said Muhyiddin has competitors within Bersatu and PAS who are eyeing the top post in PN, a competition which will split the coalition.
On Thursday, Mahathir said he and several PN leaders had banded together to oppose a “common enemy of the Malays”. He claimed that the Malays have been gradually deprived of their rights under the unity government led by Anwar Ibrahim.
“Malay power over ‘Tanah Melayu’ will disappear if nothing is done to prevent that from happening. We agree that we have a common enemy. We have to come together to face this common enemy,” he said.
However, political analyst James Chin of University of Tasmania said Mahathir’s move appeared to be more about undermining Anwar than about broader national issues.
“Mahathir has never been in favour of Anwar, and he hasn’t changed his stance since sacking Anwar as deputy prime minister in the late 90s. He has repeatedly stated that Anwar is unfit to lead Malaysia, even now when Anwar is the prime minister,” Chin added.
For PN’s leaders, Mahathir’s involvement may serve as a strategy to rally the Malay community under a united front, Chin said. While Mahathir tries to undermine Anwar, PN hopes to use Mahathir to win over Malay voters.
The decision “to bring the ‘old man’ back” was viewed by Jawan as a sign of a compromise to placate competing factions. It highlighted the inability of PN’s leadership to resolve internal tussles, he said.
Last month, PAS said it was more deserving of leading the opposition coalition as it had more MPs (43 to Bersatu’s 25) and a stronger grassroots network nationwide.
Jawan said Bersatu and PAS remain strong challengers to Umno and PKR among Malay voters in the peninsula, but the reliance on Mahathir could alienate voters who view him as a spent force in politics.
Jawan said: “His time is long gone.” Mahathir’s defeat in Langkawi at the 2022 general election, where he lost his deposit, was a humiliating chapter in the 99-year-old’s long political career.
“Since he left Umno in 2016, he has been oscillating between supporting various political parties and coalitions of political parties for personal reasons,” Jawan said.
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kt comments:
The “common enemy of the Malays” is the Old Coot himself, serving his own selfish wicked interests - what has he done for the Malays? If not shoring up his sons' prospects and his cronies' benefits he seeks to destroy Anwar and other foes (Najib, AAB, Ku Li, etc).
He is BAD fengshui, and BERSATU will suffer from his 'sial' influence, even his EVIL presence.
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