The recent partial pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has sparked debates among analysts, with divergent opinions on its potential impact on the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions. Despite the current backlash and discontent, some analysts suggest that Najib's personal appeal with Malay voters could turn out to be an asset for both political alliances.
The Federal Territories Pardons Board's announcement on Friday revealed that Najib's prison sentence would be halved, and his fine significantly reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. While this decision has not completely alienated PH supporters, as Najib remains in prison for now, analysts believe it could bolster Umno's position, with the popular former president potentially influencing the party's campaign in the next general election.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Azmi Hassan sees Najib's partial pardon as a catalyst for Umno's resurgence, providing confidence to Malay voters who may have shifted support to other parties. He predicts that Najib's presence in the political landscape could counter the Perikatan Nasional coalition's influence, particularly with Malay-Muslim conservatives.
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun agrees, stating that Najib's "Bossku" persona could be instrumental in countering PN's "Green Wave" of support from Malay-Muslim conservatives. Oh believes that unleashing Najib with his Bossku campaign might stall the Green Wave, a surge that nearly allowed PN to take power in the last general election.
However, International Islamic University Malaysia political science assistant professor Syaza Shukri expresses concern over the potential political fallout from Najib's pardon. She argues that it could lead to wavering support among traditional PH voters, emphasizing the clear rejection of Najib and BN in previous elections. Shukri also predicts that PN might capitalize on the pardon to portray itself as the only "clean" coalition in the country.
While there is optimism among some analysts about Najib's role in future elections, Shukri remains skeptical of the effectiveness of Najib's "Bossku" appeal, suggesting that its impact on the general public may be limited. She concludes that the political benefit to BN is minimal, characterizing the pardon as more beneficial to an individual than to the broader coalition.
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