SNAP elections won’t end the political shenanigans pervasive in national politics now, said political experts on Muhyiddin Yassin’s slim majority.

A general election won’t solve the prime minister political quagmire, they said.

“He won’t solve the country’s political crisis with a fresh general election because I don’t see any political party or coalition that could win a clear majority,” Universiti Putra Malaysia professor of politics and government Jayum Jawan told The Malaysian Insight.

Jawan said snap polls are a common strategy to resolve a political or leadership crisis but won’t end the shenanigans that are the hallmark of Malaysian politics.

Since no party or bloc will emerge as clear-cut winners, the uncertainty will continue from before a GE15, he said.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said fresh elections, just two years after GE14 in 2018 could instead cost Muhyiddin his job.

“I’m sure Muhyiddin is well aware that the chances of someone from Umno ending up being prime minister is a great possibility,” Azman said.

The scenario Azman foresees is that both Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad won’t end up as prime ministers.

“Both men will taste bitter disappointments,” he said alluding to Muhyiddin’s biggest political detractor, former prime minister Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir accused Muhyiddin of engineering the coup that not only ended his comeback as the seventh prime minister but also caused the Pakatan Harapan government to collapse.

The fallout between the two spawned endless rumours of a coup and counter coup.

“Muhyiddin is in a difficult situation. He’s in the proverbial place, between the mountain and the deep blue sea.”

Azman said Muhyiddin not only has to contend with the threat of Dr Mahathir but also has to deal with the anger in Umno.

“Bersatu cannot rely on Umno for support and assistance after what Bersatu did to them prior to the 2018 general election.

“Umno will not compromise because their grassroots are still angry and blame Bersatu for trying to break up the party.

“So Bersatu is not strong, does not have grassroots support and the party is relying on the pull of a few personalities. That pull too is wearing thin.”

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing nonetheless welcomes snap elections.

Masing, who confirmed Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) met with Muhyiddin on the election on Thursday, said GE15 would allow Malaysians to choose their prime minister.

“I have had enough of Dr Mahathir making a fool of us by claiming that he wants to clean Malaysian politics.

“It’s like the kettle calling the pot black. Let us clean him and his cohorts of Malaysian politics for good,” said the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president.

Once elections are over, Malaysians can then live their lives, do their business in peace and “all the frogs be fried for food”, in reference to the party hoppers exacerbating the situation.

“They are a source of embarrassment to all honourable members in Malaysia,” Masing said.

PRS is one of four Sarawak-based parties in the state ruling coalition.

The others are Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the lead party, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

Yesterday, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg confirmed reports that Muhyiddin is planning to call snap elections.

GPS supports the Perikatan Nasional pact of Bersatu, Umno/Barisan Nasional and PAS. – June 14, 2020.