PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) is wrong to assume that it can easily win the Malay-majority seats in the Penang elections, and as a result have a run at taking over the state, P. Ramasamy said today.

The Penang deputy chief minister said PN’s assumption of easy victory in Malay-majority constituencies are predicated on the notion that the Malay vote is overwhelmingly pro-PN.

“But this might not be the case.

“Even if the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance is weak in terms of garnering Malay support, good governance in Penang may just entice more support for Malay-based parties such as PKR, Amanah and Umno.

“The prediction of PN taking over the Malay-majority areas might not be accurate, especially under the changed political, social and psychological circumstances,” said the DAP leader.

He also said the “green wave” enjoyed by PAS and Bersatu in last November’s general election may not see a repeat.

He added that PN’s image of being a “clean and holy coalition” has diminished as a result of corruption charges levelled at certain Bersatu leaders.

Ramasamy said PN leaders and analysts have failed to take account of the result of good governance.

He said a recent study of Malay electors in Penang indicated that while voters may not see eye to eye with DAP as a party, they are not opposed to DAP heading the state government.

“Slightly more than 50% of Malay voters said they had no difficulty with the DAP-led Penang government.

“For the Malays, the race and religion narratives are important.

“Such narratives might be the tipping point of their ultimate preferences when it comes to casting the ballot.

“But at the same time, Malay voters are very rational. They are in a position to separate fact from fiction.”

Penang is expected to hold its polls in June this year, along with five other states.

PN leaders and analysts have predicted that the opposition coalition will win hands down the majority of Malay seats in the 40-seat Penang assembly.

Presently PH occupies 33 seats while BN has two. PAS, representing PN, has one seat. Four other seats are vacant after their incumbents were sacked for defecting from PKR to Bersatu.

Of PH’s 33 seats, DAP has 19, which are largely mixed seats, while PKR (12) and Amanah (2) hold the Malay-dominated constituencies. – April 27, 2023.