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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright November 2022
Going by voting patterns of GE15, it is clear that we, in Peninsular Malaysia, are becoming ethnically more polarised. Malays prefer PN while the non-Malays support PH.
This conclusion is purely based upon preferences of the parties we chose to vote for in GE15.
Briefly, PN is mostly supported by Malays while PH is largely preferred by non-Malays.
In fact, we are split down the middle, with the West coast retained by PH while the East coast plus Kedah and Perlis is largely controlled by PN.
Bridget Welsh in her recent column wrote "The Muhyiddin Yassin-led PN coalition won the majority of the support of the Malay electorate in Peninsular Malaysia, an estimated 54 percent."
But it failed to secure any meaningful share of support from non-Malays. In fact just a miserable "support of 0.05 percent" from Indians and Chinese communities.
She concluded that "PN was a coalition only supported by Malays, with the exception of an estimated 5 percent of support from other communities, mostly Orang Asli." (Bridget Welsh)
On the other hand, "Harapan’s support of non-Malays reached record highs, an estimated 94 percent of Chinese and an estimated 83 percent of Indians." (Bridget Welsh)
Harapan received "11 percent" of Malay support in GE15 down from 25 percent in 2018." It has become less popular with Malays who now seems to prefer PN to BN.
Finally, "BN’s loss of support was across communities, but this coalition still retained some support in all communities, although minimal among the Chinese." (Bridget Welsh)
Obviously Malay support for this old party is waning. It won only "33 percent of Malay support in GE15, down from an estimated 43 percent in GE14."
Chances are Malays might even abandon BN altogether by GE16 unless its leadership takes steps to address pressing issues facing the party which is mostly centered around corruption that has plagued its major partner, UMNO since GE14 or even earlier.
In sum, Malays prefer PN while non Malays choose PH.
PH's choice of BN in forming the government helps balance the lack of Malay support for the coalition.
On the other hand, PN that has opted to stay out of the "Unity" government will be an all Malay opposition party.
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