PAKATAN Harapan (PH) could lose its hold on Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan, if the coalition fails to sort out its differences and work as a team, political analysts said.

The coalition’s track record as the government in these states may not be its saving grace, if voting trends as seen in the recent Malacca and Johor polls continue in the next general election.

People want to see a united PH as well as strong leadership, after the coalition’s member parties differed on an issue as basic as using a common logo.

PH’s lead party, PKR, which is due to hold its elections within the next two months, could also find itself in a weak position if infighting is not controlled, amid views by some that its chief, Anwar Ibrahim, should step aside.

“Leadership elections shortly before any general election normally leave the party vulnerable,” Ilham Center executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said.

He said any infighting when selecting its new leadership will cast a shadow over the party and this would further alienate the people.

“The infighting might mean little to hardcore PKR members and supporters but it matters to the man on the street, the voters and the fence sitters who support what PKR stands for but don’t like its infighting.

“They will be bored and tired of never-ending fights. PKR needs to sort itself out quickly,” Hisomuddin said.

A weak lead party

There have been calls for Anwar to step down after PKR’s disastrous election results in Malacca and Johor recently.

His position that PKR should ditch the PH logo for the party’s own is seen as a repetitive mistake.

In the party’s coming elections, scheduled for April, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli – who has been on a hiatus from active politics since 2018 – will return to challenge for deputy president.

If PKR fails to bring improvements to the current political situation, or give voters and supporters a new hope, Hisomuddin said people will continue to feel reluctant about voting, more so with Covid-19 still prevalent.

Therefore, it is possible PH could lose Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang as well.

It has already lost Malacca – only prised from BN in the 2018 general election – due to the Sheraton Move.

In Johor last month, PH was hapless in the face of a resurgent BN, which won by a supermajority.

PH demonstrated a strong united front in 2018 when it won federal power for the first time.

Meanwhile, PKR has led the Selangor government since 2008, but the last two state elections showed that PH has failed to consolidate, Hisomuddin said.

“Parties in PH seem incapable of working as a single political unit, unlike their opponents Perikatan Nasional (PN) or BN.

“When you mention PH, voters picture three different parties: Amanah, DAP and PKR. These parties have no synergy and cohesion.”

In Selangor, the PKR-led administration – which has been in power for almost three terms – has provided assistance for welfare, health, family, employment, business, and housing.

In addition to providing free water to low-income households, the state government also provides financial grants to underprivileged through the Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor (Kiss) programme.

The state government has also provided free bus services and health screenings for women.

Yet, despite these, Hisomuddin said the PKR-led state administrations in Negri Sembilan and Selangor have yet to deliver the institutional reforms they promised.

Political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said these programmes, including free water and other social assistance, will not guarantee support.

These programmes are merely the duty of governments to provide to the people, said the Universiti Malaya political scientist.

“If PH wants to strengthen its position, it must have other plans. Show that it can move forward with more confidence.”

Awang Azman also believes PH needs to find new political partners.

“The setbacks in Johor and Malacca will influence things in Selangor, even though the state is a PKR stronghold. That is one more reason why it has to be prepared,” he added.

PKR needs DAP

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Mazlan Ali said without DAP, PKR has little ability to attract non-Malay voters.

Mazlan said this was evident in the Malacca and Johor state elections.

“Due to this, it is just wise for PKR to maintain its political ties with DAP and Amanah through PH.

“In Selangor, Malay support for PH is at around 20%, while in Johor it is between 7% and 10% only. It is mostly urban Malays and the Chinese who support PH.

“It is hard for them to win the support of the rural Malays,” Mazlan said.

The general perception of PH among most people is that it is a coalition that cannot find consensus, the latest issue being PKR’s refusal to use the coalition’s logo, as opposed to DAP and Amanah which did fly a common flag.

“This makes it look as if PH is not united. It will be difficult to keep Selangor if this continues.

“If the three parties can get their act together, they might have a chance but their majority might not be as big as before.

“The Klang Valley is now the last stronghold of PH. If they lose here, they will have to wait some time before they can win again,” Mazlan said. – March 27, 2022.