INFLUENTIAL former ministers can sway the Malay vote, especially Umno members, towards Pakatan Harapan, said analysts, even with nine days to go before polling.

This is because Umno veterans, such as Rafidah Aziz and Daim Zainuddin, are still respected among a section of Umno supporters and their actions signify a wave of protest within the party.

Rafidah was a long-serving Wanita head while Daim was the party’s treasurer.

“Tun Daim is known for his accurate prediction (in the 2008 general election). So, when he says something, people will believe it,” said Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar.

Rafidah and Daim’s open support for their former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the PH coalition shows that there is discontent within Umno towards president Najib Razak, said another analyst Dr Azwang Azman Awang Pawi.

“Rafidah and Daim can get support for PH, especially from within Umno. This is the second wave of protest within Umno.

“This is a clear message to Umno members that even former senior leaders don’t support Najib,” said Awang Azman of Universiti Malaya’s Academy of Malay Studies.

Their support for PH could be taken as a message for Umno members to vote against Barisan Nasional without having to leave Umno, said Awang Azman.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Dr Mazlan Ali said both were big in Umno but questions remained if the still had a pull among party members.

Rafidah, a former international trade and industry minister, has been a strong critic of the Najib administration’s handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and derided the breakdown of the rule of law in Malaysia.

After shying away from openly criticising Najib, she endorsed PH yesterday. – May 2, 2018.