POLITICAL parties in Malaysia have little choice but to nominate old leaders as election candidates simply because the younger generation are not being encouraged to replace them, political observers said.

The pundits were commenting on Pakatan Harapan renaming Anwar Ibrahim as its prime ministerial candidate although some have said it is time he be replaced with a new face.

They said that the PKR president had time and again claimed to have had the numbers to form the government but had failed to deliver.

Iman Research Programme director Badrul Hisham Ismail said the young leaders in Pakatan Harapan are not putting themselves forward to supplant Anwar, leaving the opposition bloc with no choice but to fall back on the 74-year-old leader.

“He is old but he is not the only one who is old. Every party is being led by old men – PAS, Amanah, DAP, Umno, PKR,” Badrul Hisham said.

“Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Pejuang chairman) is 96 years old and is still being touted as the one who can lead the country.

“The problem is, the young people in politics are not pushing themselves forward, they are not trying to grab the opportunity and that leaves the old to continue to lead.”

Badrul said Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar are the two candidates who could succeed Anwar but who have failed to show ambition.

“Rafizi has said he wants to stay out of politics, the same with Izzah. They have surrendered before trying. The young need to step up, they cannot expect their names to be nominated without trying,” he said.

Merdeka Center for Opinion Research director Ibrahim Suffian said the Malaysian political system does not encourage youngsters to move ahead.

“That is what they have. Having Anwar is their only choice. In our country, the system is that the party leader will be the prime minister.

“Dr Mahathir, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hadi Awang to name a few. This is what we have. They can, of course, put a new candidate, all they need to do is name a new and younger person, but that has not happened,” said Ibrahim.

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said yesterday Anwar was Malaysia’s best candidate for prime minister but said the Port Dickson MP must go stand for election to prove his strength.

“I have not hidden my position that the best prime minister for Malaysia today is Anwar Ibrahim and not anybody else, whether Muhyiddin or Ismail Sabri,” said Lim.

“I, however, disagree with those who believe that it is still possible for Anwar to become the prime minister through the game of numbers.”

In mid-August, PH as well as other opposition parties chose Anwar to occupy the country’s highest office following Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation.

But Anwar’s 105 backers were outnumbered by those of Umno’s Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who had the support of 114 MPs.

Ismail was consequently sworn in as the ninth prime minister.

It was not the first time Anwar had failed to gain majority support. In September last year, Anwar declared he had “strong and formidable support” in the Dewan Rakyat that was enough to oust Muhyiddin.

He did not prove his claim.

Badrul Hisham told The Malaysian Insight that Anwar might still have the support from the public to lead the opposition in the election.

“He has the influence, amongst politicians and people in politics, he has it. The public too, I think he has the support,” he said.

Anwar was supposed to replace Dr Mahathir as the prime minister when the Langkawi MP was with Bersatu.

That did not materialise as Muhyiddin who was the Home Minister during Pakatan Harapan’s tenure in Putrajaya, decided to pull Bersatu out of PH while Dr Mahathir resigned from his post after claiming that he has lost the support of MPs.

Muhyiddin accepted PKR MPs from Azmin Ali’s camp and formed Perikatan Nasional together with PAS. Umno also threw it support behind Muhyiddin, but the lynchpin Barisan Nasional party did not join Perikatan Nasional.

Public sentiment has changed with some demanding that the opposition replace Anwar with a new and younger candidate as prime minister candidate.

PH should consider a new name

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said PH needs to address the prime minister candidate issue immediately before the next general election.

Hisommudin said based on a recent study by Ilham Centre, Anwar is losing the support of Chinese voters and PH should look at the issue seriously before it is too late.

“His slogan ‘I have the numbers’ is now rhetoric because when given the real opportunity to prove his worth, he didn’t turn up,” Hisommudin said.

“The non-Malays, especially the Chinese, want a new shift and this is mentioned in their social media when we conducted a study. They want a new person to lead.

“If PH does not address this issue, it will cost them the election. The Chinese were the ones who gave them a huge number of votes (in the previous elections). If they refuse to go out and vote this time, PH will be in big trouble,” he said.

Hisomuddin added that he had conveyed this message to PH leaders but received lame excuses.

“PH said they do not have time to name a new candidate because the election is just around the corner and Anwar is the best candidate that they have. I think that is a naive answer.”

“They need a new strategy in this election, but if they believe that their current strategy can win them the election, then carry on,” he said.

Veteran political observer, Sayuti Omar, on the other hand believed that Anwar was still the best person to be the next PM.

The author of several political books said PH could win big in the next election if it can work together with other opposition parties which are not in its coalition.

“One thing about PH is, they are united. If they can consolidate with Pejuang, Warisan and other smaller parties they can win big,” Sayuti said.

“Unlike Perikatan Nasional or Barisan Nasional, the animosity is still there especially between Umno and Bersatu. Are they going to agree to a one-to-one fight or will there be three-cornered-fights.

“Anwar with his charisma and diplomatic ties with other foreign countries are our best bet. His experience is what makes him stand above the rest,” he said. – September 1, 2021.