BARISAN Nasional’s ethnic parties, MCA and MIC, will have a tough time against DAP and PKR in the next elections, said BN secretary-general Annuar Musa.

The Umno lawmaker admits that urban voters have shifted to the opposition in recent elections and that BN’s Indian and Chinese parties would find it hard to reclaim lost ground.

“It’s not going to be easy. We have to accept the fact that DAP is a very established political party and it seem to be very influential, especially among the Chinese.

“In the urban areas, DAP is still very dominant, still very strong.

“MCA and MIC will have a tough time winning or capturing the urban seats,” Annuar, who is the Federal Territories minister, told The Malaysian Insight.

In the 2018 general election, MCA won only one seat (Ayer Hitam) and MIC, two (Tapah and Cameron Highlands).

In the following by-elections, MCA added Tg Piai to its tally but MIC did not contest the Cameron Highlands seat as it gave way to an Orang Asli direct candidate contesting on the Barisan Nasional ticket.

Data on the 2018 polls showed a significant drop in support for the two BN parties, a decline that began in 2008 when BN lost its two-thirds majority for the first time.

Despite their decreasing popularity, Annuar said the coalition would not abandon them because the allies had governed Malaysia together since independence in 1957 until 2018.

“I must admit MCA and MIC are not as strong as they used to be but it is our responsibility to assist them and to give them our loyal support.

“We play as a team, BN must be seen as one entity, which is supported by four major political parties. So, we would not allow MCA and MIC to face difficulties on their own.”

Negotiations have already started among the parties over the distribution of seats in the next general election, which is due in 2023 although there is speculation it could be called earlier.

Annuar said it is still too early to decide on seat allocation.

“We should not be talking about seat distribution now because we’re still technically in the third year of the current term.

“Unfortunately, due to the political instability, people can’t help but speculate about the next elections and about seat distribution.

“As far as BN is concerned, we have engaged with our partners. We have been talking about who should contest where in a very brotherly manner and so far, we do not have problems.”

Annuar said seat negotiations would be straightforward if only BN’s four parties are involved but the coalition is linked up with PAS in Muafakat Nasional.

The situation is further complicated by BN’s alliance with Bersatu, which leads the Perikatan Nasional government, he said.

But at the end of the day, he said, it’s not how many seats you were given to contest but whether you win the seats assigned. – November 27, 2020.