SOME 5.8 million new voters are said to have been registered for the coming general elections.

Once verified, these first-time voters, along with the existing 14 million, will be casting their ballot in what is shaping up to be likely, the most competitive polls in modern Malaysian history.

With Bersatu and Umno clearly stating their respective intentions to go at it alone, the real question that remains is the composition of their respective coalitions.

While Bersatu assumed the role of leading party in Perikatan Nasional (PN), the reality is more than one third of its strength comprises Barisan Nasional (BN) components, with Borneo parties and PAS supplying another large chunk.

Of the seats held by Bersatu, only eight were originally won on its own ticket, while the rest are from crossovers – mostly Umno and PKR.

With both parties eager to win back their seats – as both a matter of pride and to ‘punish’ their former colleagues – it is difficult to see the electorate place their trust in a young party that says it has 2.9 million members on paper, but lacks both the experience or machinery of Umno or PKR. 

Instead, Bersatu will likely rely on its ally PAS, known for its grassroots network and mobilisation capabilities, but that would see PAS abandon two alliances to which it has pledged too: Muafakat Nasional and Gagasan.

PAS cannot have its cake and eat it too. It also has to explain to its base why it chose one Malay party over the other.

MIC and MCA seem to be coy on their options at this point, so it remains to be seen if BN can reassemble in time, which would mean four blocs contending: PN, BN, PH and the one that Warisan is trying to piece together.

GPS and GRS can be considered wild cards and will likely keep their options open too. The political ground has somewhat shifted since 2018.

The brand of nationalism that swept PN into power may be as marketable as it was just a year ago, mostly of PN’s own doing.

In its haste in painting DAP as the bane of Bumiputera and Islam, it implied its own promise to solve the issues it alleges opponents have been reluctant to touch, only to find itself in the exact same position.

Worse, to appease its allies and keep its razor-thin majority, PN had to go the extra mile for non-Bumis, a point not unnoticed by their members or supporters. 

DAP’s direct approach did not go down well with the general public and PH too, appears to have learnt its lesson from this. 

As the political noise has lessened, both sides are finding the spotlight to now be on bread-and-butter topics, especially in light of a country weary from rounds of lockdowns and a heavy battering by a host of Covid-related issues.

Even the usual us-versus-them prods did not work, with the electorate and trade associations alike responding tepidly to both the 51% Bumiputra participation rule for the logistics industry and its subsequent rescission.

The pandemic has left people tired and looking out for their immediate economic concerns first rather than rosy outlooks and data that do not necessarily translate into dollars and cents, or jobs, or business opportunities at the lower rung of the food chain.

Broad-based coalition politics supplemented by supply and demand would keep the focus on these issues that matter, without the need to tread on divisive topics for protracted periods of time. 

It would also shorten the political power and financial parity between parties, keeping each other in check, to the benefit of the rakyat. – October 6, 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.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.