PKR has conducted a post-mortem on what went wrong in the Rantau by-election after Pakatan Harapan suffered three straight losses in the polls.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said it is normal to conduct a post-mortem after a loss. 

“It is normal. They are doing it and I’m waiting for the report from the state,” he said after attending the Funding Diversity @ Sunway University forum today.

Last week, Barisan Nasional’s by-election hat-trick took place after Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan retained Rantau for the fourth term.

It is the third straight win for BN after the Cameron Highlands contest in January and last month’s Semenyih polls. The previous four by-elections since the 14th general election – Sg Kandis, Balakong, Seri Setia and Port Dickson – saw Pakatan Harapan emerging victorious.
Analysts who had studied the polls in Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau said PH still lacked a cohesive election machinery compared to BN.

They also said PH struggled to craft a compelling message to get voters out, especially those who voted the coalition in during the 14th general election.

Instead, they said, it preferred to fall back on attacking its rivals – a strategy that is more suited to an opposition party than for one that is in government.   
As for the Sandakan by-election, Anwar said the PH presidential meeting will take place next week to discuss the matter.

“The choice is DAP’s and they have our full support,” he said.

The Sandakan by-election will be held on May 11 with DAP set to name its candidate on behalf of PH.

The by-election is necessitated by the death of its rep and Sabah DAP chairman Stephen Wong on March 28. – April 17, 2019.