Liu foresees BN-PN pact falling apart, GE16 ‘free for all’
4 hours ago
Predeep Nambiar
The former DAP leader says with Umno and PAS vying for the same voter base, the split will happen as both feel strong enough to compete for more seats
Former Selangor assemblyman Ronnie Liu, who joined PBM today, said the cooperation between BN and PN in Negeri Sembilan was merely a temporary ‘marriage of convenience’.
PETALING JAYA: A former DAP leader has predicted that Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional’s pact will not last until the next general election (GE16), which he expects will turn into a “free for all” between political parties.
Former Selangor assemblyman Ronnie Liu said the cooperation between the two coalitions in the recent Negeri Sembilan polls was merely tactical and a temporary “marriage of convenience”.
Liu, who formally joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) today, said the first signs of trouble in BN-PN could already be seen in negotiations for the Melaka polls.
He said their split would stem from the belief held by both coalitions that they were strong enough to compete for more seats, especially since their key components, Umno and PAS, largely vie for the same voter base.
“Very soon you’ll see cracks between PN and BN. They will divorce and then go their separate ways.
“Then in GE16, it will be a free for all,” he said at a press conference today.
BN remains a key ally of Pakatan Harapan’s in the federal government, while PN makes up the largest bloc in the opposition. The last general election resulted in a hung Parliament with PH winning 82 seats followed by PN (74) and BN (30).
Last week, PBM president Larry Sng predicted that BN-PN could win enough seats in Peninsular Malaysia alone to form the federal government in GE16 if their alliance remains intact.
PBM can perform better than Muda, Bersama
Separately, Sng expressed confidence that PBM could outperform other smaller parties, such as Muda and Bersama, and win several state and parliamentary seats in future elections.
Former Selangor assemblyman Ronnie Liu said the cooperation between the two coalitions in the recent Negeri Sembilan polls was merely tactical and a temporary “marriage of convenience”.
Liu, who formally joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) today, said the first signs of trouble in BN-PN could already be seen in negotiations for the Melaka polls.
He said their split would stem from the belief held by both coalitions that they were strong enough to compete for more seats, especially since their key components, Umno and PAS, largely vie for the same voter base.
“Very soon you’ll see cracks between PN and BN. They will divorce and then go their separate ways.
“Then in GE16, it will be a free for all,” he said at a press conference today.
BN remains a key ally of Pakatan Harapan’s in the federal government, while PN makes up the largest bloc in the opposition. The last general election resulted in a hung Parliament with PH winning 82 seats followed by PN (74) and BN (30).
Last week, PBM president Larry Sng predicted that BN-PN could win enough seats in Peninsular Malaysia alone to form the federal government in GE16 if their alliance remains intact.
PBM can perform better than Muda, Bersama
Separately, Sng expressed confidence that PBM could outperform other smaller parties, such as Muda and Bersama, and win several state and parliamentary seats in future elections.
Larry Sng.
“I believe PBM will do better. We’ll do better than Bersama, we’ll do better than Muda, and we’ll do better than other smaller parties,” said the Julau MP, who is also PBM’s sole elected representative.
Sng was asked how he expected PBM to fare compared with Muda and Bersama.
The former Sarawak PKR chief said PBM’s support base in Borneo remained intact with him at the helm and as the sole MP.
He nonetheless acknowledged that building a similar presence in the peninsula would take time.
Sng said PBM has not decided which peninsula state elections it would contest, but the party was open to exploring possible electoral understandings or pacts with other blocs, including in GE16.
Meanwhile, Liu predicted that GE16 would only be held after Malaysia hosts the SEA Games, which will take place from Sept 18-29 next year. This would give PBM slightly more than a year to prepare, he added.
Liu also expressed confidence PBM could win over segments of West Malaysians, saying the party aimed to practice non-racial, non-theocratic politics and provide a new political platform for all.
“I believe PBM will do better. We’ll do better than Bersama, we’ll do better than Muda, and we’ll do better than other smaller parties,” said the Julau MP, who is also PBM’s sole elected representative.
Sng was asked how he expected PBM to fare compared with Muda and Bersama.
The former Sarawak PKR chief said PBM’s support base in Borneo remained intact with him at the helm and as the sole MP.
He nonetheless acknowledged that building a similar presence in the peninsula would take time.
Sng said PBM has not decided which peninsula state elections it would contest, but the party was open to exploring possible electoral understandings or pacts with other blocs, including in GE16.
Meanwhile, Liu predicted that GE16 would only be held after Malaysia hosts the SEA Games, which will take place from Sept 18-29 next year. This would give PBM slightly more than a year to prepare, he added.
Liu also expressed confidence PBM could win over segments of West Malaysians, saying the party aimed to practice non-racial, non-theocratic politics and provide a new political platform for all.
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