GEORGE TOWN, Aug 28 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) may win a easy majority to take over the Penang state government in 4 years’ time if the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) unity government isn’t cautious, warned analysts.
The Opposition coalition went from profitable a sole state seat again in 2018 to 11 seats within the current state elections which is an indication that the unity government ought to take heed or face dropping extra seats in future, they stated.
“They ought to fear and fear large time. PN now has greater than 25 per cent of Penang state seats,” stated Senior Fellow of Singapore Institute of International Affairs Oh Ei Sun.
He stated theoretically, PN could make additional inroads to win all of the Malay and the combined seats within the state, placing it inside attain of a easy majority.
“As may be seen in each Penang and Selangor, urbanisation doesn’t detract from many citizens’ non secular yearnings,” he stated.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s political science professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid additionally stated nothing is not possible in politics.
“People’s preferences can change, and alter in a short time, particularly when you’ve gotten a major proportion of fickle youth among the many voters,” he stated when requested if it was potential for Gerakan, a element of PN, to make inroads in DAP stronghold seats in future for the coalition to acquire energy in Penang.
However, he stated lots would additionally depend upon the federal government’s prudence in tackling the issues of the Malays the place it issues most, such because the sense of being marginalised and uprooted in Penang’s speedy improvement panorama.
“It’s received to be a long-term mission (a minimum of 4 years till the top of the parliamentary time period) of taking place to the bottom and immersing yourselves within the lives of Malays,” he stated.
He stated the unity government will want to go down on the bottom to totally perceive the difficulties confronted by the Malays as a substitute of counting on representatives to do the work on the bottom.
“Heed classes from the recognition of figures like Sanusi the Kedah MB with out essentially emulating his uncouth mannerisms,” he advised, referring to the Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
He stated the unity government wants to cut back jargon-filled speeches and concentrate on the straightforward economics of increasing the job market and easing inflationary pressures.
“At the second, the unpopularity of Umno apart, the Madani financial ideas haven’t fairly sunk in with grassroots Malays,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Associate Professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi stated PH-BN wants to strengthen the cooperation between Umno and PKR to guarantee they will win again the Malay-majority seats in future.
He believed that PN can solely win a most of 15 seats that the coalition had targeted on within the current state elections as a result of these are Malay-majority seats.
The 15 Malay majority seats in Penang are Penaga, Permatang Berangan, Sungai Dua, Penanti, Pinang Tunggal, Permatang Pasir, Bertam, Seberang Jaya, Telok Ayer Tawar, Sungai Acheh, Sungai Bakap, Batu Maung, Telok Bahang, Pulau Betong dan Bayan Lepas.
The 11 seats received by PN are Penaga, Permatang Berangan, Sungai Dua, Penanti, Pinang Tunggal, Permatang Pasir, Seberang Jaya, Telok Ayer Tawar, Sungai Bakap, Telok Bahang, Pulau Betong.
“There is a necessity to construct nearer ties between Umno and PKR, down to the grassroots stage, via joint actions, programmes and occasions to mirror an in depth relationship between each events,” he stated,
He stated the unity government may even want to look into the spiritual academic establishments which might be closely influenced by PAS equivalent to Islamic spiritual colleges, tahfiz colleges, surau and mosques.
“PAS’ energy lies in these establishments so PH-BN will want to do one thing to regain affect in these establishments,” he stated.
Finally, Awang Azman stated it is rather vital for the unity government to firmly counter the Opposition’s propaganda so as to win again Malay help.
Oh doesn’t agree as he believed nothing may be achieved to divert the “inexperienced wave”.
“The socioeconomic strategy of PH-BN doesn’t appear to work, so all of us are left clueless and hapless within the face of the relentless inexperienced wave,” he stated.
