Focus on gaining seats, not
winning Kedah, PH-BN
told
Analyst Rusdi Omar says the PH-BN alliance will find it tough to oust PN, led by menteri besar Sanusi Nor, whose administration remains strong.
Rusdi Omar of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) said that the PH-BN alliance still faces significant challenges in defeating the state Perikatan Nasional (PN), led by menteri besar Sanusi Nor, whose administration remains strong.
“Sanusi’s government is still strong and the people of Kedah continue to support him. Moreover, fence-sitters and young voters remain aligned with PN,” he told FMT.
He said PH-BN’s aspiration to take over Kedah is still a long way off, and if the alliance manages to win or secure a few more seats in the 16th general election (GE16), it would already be a significant achievement.
To achieve this, he stressed that PH and BN leaders must engage more closely with Kedahans by ramping up their community programmes.
“PH-BN must also strengthen their cooperation by ensuring party members fully accept one another through intensified grassroots outreach.
“Many Umno supporters in Kedah still struggle to accept the party’s cooperation with PH, particularly DAP. Party leaders must frequently explain the necessity of this alliance,” he said.
On Feb 11, PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that PH and BN are preparing themselves as a “government in waiting” in Kedah ahead of the next polls.
He said this after being elected as Kedah PH chairman effective Feb 7, replacing Mahfuz Omar who held the position since 2022.
In response, Kedah Umno information chief Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said yesterday that while support for his party and BN had improved – along with renewed confidence from members following their crushing defeat in the last state elections in August 2023 – they were still not in a position to oust Sanusi.
University Teknologi Mara’s Ariff Aizuddin Azlan said that PH-BN must work much harder if they want to wrest Kedah, known as the country’s “rice bowl”, from PAS rule.
He pointed out that with recent issues involving paddy farmers heating up, PH-BN must demonstrate total commitment if they aim to replace PN.
“Kedah PH and BN must first establish themselves as a strong opposition and prove their capability to govern, if given the mandate,” he said.
He added that while it may take several elections for this to happen, PH-BN could eventually form the state government if they implement effective strategies to win over the people.
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