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SHAH ALAM - Budget 2027 could improve Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s public standing through cost-of-living measures and targeted allocations, but the benefits may not translate into stronger support for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Melaka, political analysts say.
International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said the budget could generate goodwill towards Anwar and PH, although voters’ existing political loyalties would influence how they perceived the measures.
“I believe Budget 2027 could create a sense of goodwill towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan, particularly through its allocations, cost-of-living measures and tangible benefits.
“However, voters’ perceptions of the budget will still depend largely on their party loyalty. While government supporters may view it positively, opposition supporters are likely to dismiss it as populist measures or political handouts.
“Ultimately, the key is whether the budget can maintain public support and prevent a significant decline in PH’s backing,” she said in an interview with Sinar Daily.
However, Syaza questioned whether PH had made sufficient use of the additional time before the Melaka state election to strengthen its local political machinery and grassroots support.
She said Budget 2027 was among the federal government’s major efforts ahead of the state polls and could influence voters, but PH’s difficulties in building local support could limit its electoral impact.
Syaza also distinguished Anwar’s personal standing from PH’s organisational strength and the federal government’s overall performance, saying public perceptions of the prime minister could differ from views of his administration.
“I believe Anwar’s personal standing can remain slightly distinct from PH’s organisational strength and the government’s overall performance.
“We often hear people describe Anwar as one of the best prime ministers Malaysia has had, yet criticism continues to be directed at the government, his Cabinet and PH as a whole. In fact, I would argue that some of the strongest criticism of PH comes from its own supporters.
“However, opposition supporters tend to view Anwar and PH collectively, meaning both face similar negative perceptions,” she added.
Political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun similarly said Budget 2027 could improve Anwar’s personal standing, as it included measures intended to benefit various segments of society.
However, he cautioned that this would not necessarily translate into greater voter support for PH.
“Malays tend to perceive PH as too liberal, while Chinese and Indian voters are dissatisfied with DAP, believing it has not delivered enough reforms.
“Despite these contrasting sentiments, Anwar could still position himself as a compromise candidate for prime minister,” he said.
The analysts’ assessments point to a distinction between the potential political benefits of Budget 2027 and PH’s ability to convert them into electoral support in Melaka.
While the budget could help the government demonstrate its efforts to address economic pressures, PH’s performance in the state will also depend on its grassroots organisation, coalition arrangements and the extent to which voters separate Anwar’s leadership from the broader coalition and government.
