Can Perikatan Nasional (PN) enhance its prospects in the upcoming state elections by joining forces with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and appealing to the Malay electorate? According to Azmi Hassan from Akademi Nusantara, PN could leverage Mahathir's advocacy for protecting Malay interests to attract a larger Malay voter base. In the previous general election, PN claimed to have secured 54% of the Malay vote.
However, is this true?
Considering Mahathir's poor performance in the 2022 election, where he lost his deposit and received only 4,566 votes, well below the 12.5% vote threshold required to retain his deposit, one may question the prudence of PN aligning with him. This is especially relevant in light of the perceived "betrayal" by Muhyiddin, who separated Bersatu from PH to form a new government in 2020 and even labelled Mahathir as a "traitor."
However, recent events indicate a reconciliation between the trio of Mahathir, Muhyiddin, and Hadi as they unite to challenge the Unity Government. Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, in a statement made in March, emphasized the Opposition's right to attempt toppling the Federal Government, even after the Agong expressed his desire to avoid political turmoil after GE15.
Jeniri Amir, a senior fellow of the National Council of Professors, suggests that Mahathir's suggestion to work with PN stems from a lack of alternative options and a desire to regain relevance. According to Jeniri, although teaming up with Mahathir might marginally increase PN's support, his impact will not be as significant as it was in the 2018 polls due to the fallout from the Sheraton Move.
Jeniri further explains that while PN's position may strengthen in states like Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Negeri Sembilan, it is unlikely to see significant gains in Penang. Therefore, for the Unity Government, it becomes imperative to protect and fortify its hold in pro-PH states, particularly by ensuring the security of Selangor under the Unity Government banner, thereby establishing a "safe" zone for the government.
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