Umno, PAS will benefit from fresh elections

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 4 years ago · Published on 28 Feb 2020 7:00AM · 6 Comments

Pakatan Harapan, which has 92 MPs, named Anwar Ibrahim as PM candidate but the PKR president is unable to garner the numbers to form the next government. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, February 28, 2020.

SNAP elections will lead to Barisan Nasional or Umno and PAS coming into power, said analysts, adding that they will be able to win the Malay voters.

There’s also a potential of many voters deciding to sit out the election because of frustration and fatigue, said Universiti Sains Malaysia political science lecturer Dr Azmil Tayeb.

The turnout will be low because of the recent political turmoil and this will be an advantage to Umno and PAS, he said.

“Still I think it’ll be hard for any coalition to get a majority, considering how polarised it is now and there’s a chance for a hung Parliament after the elections.”

Universiti Malaya’s Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi agreed that the muafakat nasional group has the upper hand if there are fresh elections.

“The old Malay parties stand a bigger chance as more of the seats are skewed towards Malay majority instead of mix,” said the Malay ethnic studies department head.

Both sides will have to lobby hard now to get enough support from Sabah and Sarawak if they want to avoid fresh elections.

In the meantime, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim can still negotiate with Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Warisan or Umno, said Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Dr Mazlan Ali.

“All three blocs are open if Anwar can offer something like a deputy prime minister’s position to Sabah And Sarawak.

“But if he fails to do that, Malay-based parties will win,” said Mazlan.

The analysts were commenting on Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s announcement yesterday that there will be an emergency Dewan Rakyat seating on March 2 to determine who has the majority support to be prime minister.

Despite two days of interviews in Istana Negara this week, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong could not determine which MP had the majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

On Wednesday, Pakatan Harapan, which has 92 MPs, said it nominated Anwar while BN and PAS, with a combined total of 60 MPs, said they opted for fresh elections.

Bersatu, which has 26 MPs, and 11 MPs linked to Mohamed Azmin Ali, said they backed Dr Mahathir.

Warisan and Upko, who have a total of 10 MPs, and GPS (18) have not indicated who they backed. – February 28, 2020.

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Comments

  • Why did you put Anwar's photo on cover of this story and make it seem as though you are quoting him in your story...

    Posted 4 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

    • I agree. Is Malaysian Insight just trying to rile up the people? Frankly, the media also holds responsibility for the current situation

      Posted 4 years ago by Geraldine Jambu · Reply

    • Remove his photo. It is so misleading. Remove or ill not renew my subscription

      Posted 4 years ago by Prisca Leong · Reply

  • There is always the gullible group of people succumbed to UMNO and PAS lies and crooked tactics.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Nothing to do with gullibility. They will just vote for them even if they knew they will continue to plunder

      Posted 4 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • Tun m and muhyidin is racist and cheating the people gor personal gain.Bersatu no more relevan because have fail as coalition and anti manifesto and anti reform.PH without ppbm is committed in tegorm got the bernefit of yhe people and lromise in pru 14.reformasi with DSAI.PKR DAP AND AMANAH WILL BE THE CHOICE

    Posted 4 years ago by Yutian Lee · Reply