THE dust has settled in the Malacca elections, and the voters that took the trouble to look past the political shenanigans have sent an unequivocal message that, after four years of relative uncertainty, they would prefer to go back to the devil they know: Barisan Nasional (BN).

The coalition regained the foothold lost in 2018, in fact, almost matching its position in 2013.

However, this victory, is far more significant given various considerations: Umno’s internal split, the internal issues within BN, the party’s newly declared animosity with Perikatan Nasional (PN), and its relatively far weaker position in terms of resources, party strength, influence and power compared to 2013.

Most of this position and power is now shared between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PN, which each control several state governments, and enjoy relatively comparable ground support. 

The biggest winners from this would have to be the Zahid-Najib team. Leading the so-called “court cluster”, Umno’s current and immediate past presidents defied all odds stacked against them.

They include detractors within their party, enemies from their uneasy PN and Muafakat Nasional alliances, who do not wish to see Umno rise to its previous powerful status, and long-time allies MCA and MIC, whose about-face to return their undivided loyalty to their BN pact paid off well.

Remember, it was only in early August that MCA and MIC pledged to remain loyal to PN, Muhyiddin’s larger umbrella pact, when Umno declared that it was pulling out. 

On the flip side, Anwar Ibrahim’s team seems to have lost out the most. PKR lost all 11 seats contested, including the three it previously held.

To add insult to injury, Anwar’s touted strategy of bringing in the political “frogs” to win over some Malay votes from the opposing camp, seemed to have backfired spectacularly.

They failed to deliver to the point that Idris Haron lost in his contested Asahan seat, while the non-Malay voters seem to have shunned PH altogether, costing Amanah one seat and DAP a further four.

The risk taken to side-line established assemblymen like Ginie Lim and hedge its bets younger candidates did not work out too well, either. There was plenty of blame and, as the head honcho, Anwar took quite a bit. 

Anwar’s staunch loyalists wasted no time in diverting the blame to a myriad of reasons that did not hold much water, ie the usage of the logo.

If the logo was really not recognisable or sellable as a brand, how did PH manage to retain five seats?

PKR is not the only one “giving up” their legacy. DAP’s rocket is an older brand that sells well with the urban and semi-urban worker class Chinese. What about PN, who used an even newer logo, with PAS giving up its white moon on green?

PN also lost most of its seats, with PAS’s grassroots wasting no time in asking for a review in ties.

Without PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan will find it hard on the peninsula and may even lose their East Malaysian allies, especially if BN plays its cards right.

We may even see some of the 13 former component parties of BN regroup, now that the momentum is with it, behind the leadership of Zahid-Najib.  

PH needs to realise that 1MDB is a dead horse that may not be worth flogging anymore, at least not against the backdrop of a sluggish economy, a growing B40 segment and people losing out on jobs, businesses and development to our once behind-us neighbours.

Public integrity and human rights are desirables, but less than bread and butter, government cash handouts and aid, and programmes aimed to help the little guy hold on for a day or two longer.

The perception seems to be while national issues like deaths in custody, child marriage and budgetary misappropriations are important, the loss of tourist income, lack of waters to fish in, overcrowding in public hospitals, and lack of information and aid during the pandemic, seem to matter more to an economically embattled and politically weary electorate.   

There needs to be a balance of narrative, to find a common ground and focus on tangible solutions. There is enough time for PH and PN to rethink their strategies, but just.

If bickering and politicking continue to be the general scheme of things, then stopping BN’s trajectory would be a tall order. – November 24, 2021.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.