After taking over the government in November 2022, it seems like smooth sailing for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. With the full support of coalition partners (under the guise of 'unity government/kerajaan perpaduan'), nothing could shake his position as the head of government. Unfortunately, it's back to the old trappings which includes the inability to win perception war.
Many PH supporters thought the pact will learn from their failures when they rose to power post-GE14. During their first reign as government (2018-2020), they were unable to contend the perception war especially in policies as well as silly statements/acts from their main honchos.
The best example is Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, the current Agriculture and Food Security Minister as well as former Minister of Defense. When he was appointed to that position in 2018, his appointment turning him into a laughing stock over time. I still remember when the Prime Minister at that time, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his appointment, the reaction in social media was this, "Why this clown (Mohamad) was appointed to that position?"
PH was unable to fight perception surrounding Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah/PAN)'s president during his tenure as Minister of Defense. It doesn't help with another perception brewing among Malays: the party was a proxy for their ally, Democratic Action Party (DAP) especially in light of Liew Chin Tong's appointment at that time as Mohamad's deputy.
Another example was the Kekanda debacle. The Kekanda debacle was an open letter made by Minister of Religion Affairs at that time, Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa to Anwar's daughter and MP of Permatang Pauh, Nurul Izzah on politics and its tribulations. But due to people's lack of understanding on classical Malay words kekanda and adinda, many thought Mujahid tried to woo Nurul Izzah.
As a result, it made Mujahid like a buffoon and a laughing stock among ordinary citizens. It doesn't help at that time, he also received brickbats regarding Tabung Haji selling their assets. Despite their best efforts, PH unable to salvage Mujahid's image. All of this badly affected PH and it seems the old disease continues to haunt the main honchos today.
Being the so-called master of communication, many thought Anwar have a solution to prop PH and edge their opponents in the perception war. One of his first moves was appointing Fahmi Fadzil as Minister of Communication and Technology Digital. It's a suitable position because Fahmi also a communication director for PKR. On paper, it looks like a cakewalk but after a few months, even he knows this is a tough battle.
Some of these allegations were own goals made by the government such as appointing Nurul Izzah as Anwar's senior adviser or appointing Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi as Deputy Prime Minister. PH inability to learn from their past follies result in more people question whether this government is a reformist one or just plain stupid, greedy and power hungry.
Either way, it will hurt PH and its partners badly in the next state election in six states. And the one might be affected with this perception war is Anwar's ally in UMNO, Zahid. At the moment, he's still leading the party. But all that can change if UMNO-BN find itself suffer even worst fate in state elections than in GE15.
If that happens, it will change the dynamic in the current government. One that possibly bringing down the so-called unity government. To prevent that from happening, PH must win the perception war. Or else, a wipeout in the next election!
Mohamad Azim is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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