PERIKATAN Nasional is led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. No one expected him to be the PM.

When Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned the office and failed in his attempt to become the PM of a unity government in 2020, the MPs were required to inform the Agong who their preferred PM was.

Out of the blue, Muhyiddin was appointed PM with the support of MPs from PAS, Umno, PKR and GPS.

Can history be repeated in 2022 for PN, which some analysts have predicted would wither away after the general election? Could the coalition be the dark horse that will win GE15?

PN came into power at the time when Malaysia and the world were facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

About two weeks into power, Muhyiddin introduced the movement control order (MCO), which helped to contain the disease. Malaysia was hailed internationally for its good public health policies to counter the pandemic. 

Although the lockdown led to hardship for the people and the business community, it was somewhat mollified by the biggest ever economic stimulus package of RM250 billion in March 2020.

Under his leadership, about RM530 billion was provided for the rakyat and the SMEs in the form of stimulus packages.

Vaccines were purchased for 130% of the country’s 32 million population.

But PN is also known for the enforcement of an unpopular emergency where parliament was suspended for seven months. It is also known for its political appointments for government-linked companies.

This makes it difficult to predict which coalition will win GE15.

As for PH, it could become a white knight because Anwar is taking a big gamble in contesting in Tambun.

He can easily won the election if he remains in Port Dickson, which is a mixed constituency. Instead he decided to go to Tambun, a Malay constituency where PH in general is vulnerable.

His opponent in Tambun is incumbent Ahmad Faizal Azumu who’s also the Bersatu deputy president.

Anwar could still win due to his reputation.

It looks like only PN is spared from internal strife over on candidate selections.

Yes, Bersatu’s former strategist Rais Hussin and its vice-president Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen have resigned from the party but both resignations took place before PN announced its list of candidates.

So perhaps, PN could be the dark horse and even cause an upset by winning with a handsome majority. – November 7, 2022.

* Jamari Mohtar reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.