NAJIB Razak will help Barisan Nasional secure votes in the Johor elections, analysts said.

While it is hard to predict how big of an impact the former prime minister will have, he certainly will not hurt BN’s chances in the state, they said.

Najib, who also campaigned for BN in Malacca, will cement his role as the party’s chief campaigner for the next general election if BN is victorius, they added.

James Chin of University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute said Najib has utilised social media to the advantage of BN.

He has also drawn a lot of media attention, which helps BN’s campaign in the state, Chin said.

“He knows exactly what to say and how to reach out to people,” Chin told The Malaysian Insight.

“For example, his first big gathering in Johor was a visit to the Chinese school because he knows that the Chinese are angry at DAP and Pakatan Harapan.

“He knows how to reach out to them by playing on the Chinese education card and reminding the people that he was the one who approved the licence (for the schools).

“He’s very strategic and he’s very clever.”

Najib recently visited Foon Yew High School in Johor on the campaign trail.

His visit drew the criticism of opposition lawmakers, who said the school board should be removed for welcoming Najib, who has been convicted for corruption.

Najib seems to be overshadowing BN’s choice for menteri besar, Hasni Mohammed, in Johor. This, Chin said, is intentional.

“What you are seeing is a deliberate strategy, it is not by accident. BN knows that Najib has a bigger social media reach. They want to play down Hasni.

“They want to concentrate on one BN channel and basically if you look at the other BN channels it’s very quiet compared to what Najib is doing,” he said.

Johor will go to the polls on March 12.  It is a packed elections with more than 15 parties and 239 candidates vying for 56 seats.

Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) each have 56 candidates, Pejuang is fielding 42, and Pakatan Harapan (PH) 30.

The elections will also see PKR standing in 20 seats, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) in seven, and 16 Independent candidates.

In its first foray into the peninsula, Warisan is sending six candidates to the ring. Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) are each fielding one

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said it is hard to determine Najib’s effect on Johor, the birthplace of Umno.

“He seems to be popular because of his new ‘rempit’ persona.

“However, it’s hard to pinpoint it as the factor for BN’s renewal if indeed the party does win big in Johor.

“Other factors such as the fractured opposition and vote-splitting in crowded fields could explain the outcomes of the elections,” Tunku Mohar said.

Najib has embraced his “Bossku” moniker and made “Malu apa Bossku?” (What is there to be ashamed of, boss?) a rallying cry.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Mazlan Ali said Najib could persuade fence sitters to vote for BN.

“He can influence those on the fence. Those on the fence like to go for those who are popular.”

On BN’s success in Malacca, Mazlan said there is no proof that it was due to Najib.

“To me, he is just making the campaign ‘merry’. In Johor, if BN wins big, then maybe we can say it was due to him.”

People flocking to see Najib may just be interested in taking selfies with him; that doesn’t necessarily translate into votes, Mazlan added.

Meanwhile, Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said even if there is no proof that Najib was behind BN’s recent wins, it certainly didn’t hurt to have him around.

“The ‘prosperity’ aura around Najib is undoubtedly tremendous. BN’s brilliant electoral results in Malacca demonstrated that at least his walkabouts did not hurt, although it is difficult to quantify if they contributed significantly to the overwhelming win.

“And similar results are likely in Johor,” Oh said.

Najib’s comeback

If BN scores a landslide victory in Johor Johor, Najib will cement his role as the party’s chief campaigner, the analysts said.

Chin said this will pave the way for him to play a bigger role in the general election.

“He may even end up the campaign manager for the whole country.

“He’s obviously still very much in touch with the grassroots. He’s still very much the ideas man and key strategist in BN.”

Oh said Najib’s ultimate goal is to be rid of his legal troubles.

“Najib is gunning for not only exculpation but a triumphant political comeback.”

In 2018, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering for illegally receiving RM42 million linked to SRC International, a subsidiary of 1MDB.

He was sentenced to 12 years in jail and a RM210,000 fine. The decision has since been upheld by the appeals court.

Najib is also facing 25 power abuse and money-laundering charges in connection with RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds. – March 9, 2022.