PAKATAN Harapan will have a slimmer chance of returning to power with Anwar Ibrahim as its prime minister candidate, as his liberal image will make it difficult for him to garner the support of Malays, analysts said.

The PKR president does not have the backing of the Malays, as his foes have used morality and his pro-West image against him, they said.

Political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali told The Malaysian Insight that if Anwar had the support, he would have risen to power long ago.

“I don’t foresee Anwar having the numbers to become prime minister,” he said.

Anwar’s liberal and secular image have hampered his chances of garnering support from right-wing Malays, Mazlan said.

“The label will be a burden on him. Only urban parties like DAP and Amanah will support him. That is the reason he can’t get the numbers from pro-Malay and Islamists,” he said.

Contrary to popular belief, Anwar is a rational and tolerant person but his foes are using DAP to attack him, he said.

This was one of the reasons Islamist party PAS, a former ally in Pakatan Rakyat, is working with Umno.

He said race and religious issues are still relevant in the country and that was why Umno and PAS are still able to get Malay support.

The political analyst, however, said Anwar should stand by his principles, maintain his stance against corruption and continue to fight for economic and human rights issues.

PH may have a chance of commanding support again if it nominates Warisan’s Mohd Shafie Apdal as its prime minister candidate, provided he is endorsed by Anwar, DAP, Amanah and Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“If Anwar agrees (to Shafie’s nomination), his friends in DAP and Amanah will support him. Dr Mahathir will also support and that will lead to a stronger coalition.”

Mazlan also said Dr Mahathir’s faction in Bersatu and Warisan are not in favour of Anwar as prime minister.

However, the idea of Shafie as prime minister and Anwar as his deputy could work, he said.

Dr Oh Ei Sun of Singapore Institute of International Affairs said PH may struggle to command more than half the support in Parliament.

“If it is Shafie, the support will barely be more than half. Even with Mukhriz Mahathir (as prime minister), it may not be more than half.”

Warisan might choose to remain in power in Sabah and not support PH at the federal level if it renegotiates another position for Shafie, Oh said.

“It is unlikely he will accept the post of deputy prime minister. He will definitely continue as Sabah chief minister.

“So, it is either the post of prime minister or Sabah chief minister. He would not accept any other position.”

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Dr Lau Zhe Wei said Muafakat Nasional has agreed in principle to nominate Muhyiddin Yassin as candidate for prime minister in the 15th general election.

The associate professor said since Umno and Bersatu have made their choice, the situation in Perikatan Nasional is stable.

“Before Umno and Bersatu negotiated, there were uncertainties. But now everything is stable.

“Even if PH names Dr Mahathir as its prime minister candidate, it will not be easy for them to win back federal power. They just don’t have the numbers.” – July 10, 2020.