UMNO could retain five seats in Selangor while winning a few more if allowed to compete in Malay-majority areas, political analysts said. 

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Mazlan Ali said the party should focus on Malay-majority areas while Pakatan Harapan (PH) could compete in other areas. 

“The voter base in mixed areas traditionally sides with PH. Umno should look at competing for seats that Bersatu has. 

“Umno should compete in areas where there are more than 70% Malay voters,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Twenty-one out of the 56 seats in the Selangor state assembly fulfil that criterion, mostly held by PH through PKR. 

Based on the current composition, PH controls 41 seats while BN has five. Perikatan Nasional (PN) holds seven seats (Bersatu 6, PAS 1) and the remaining three are held by Pejuang. 

During negotiations with PH last week, Umno had wanted to contest 22 seats. 

Selangor PH chairman Amirudin Shari had said seat negotiations with BN were complete and would be presented to the central leadership of both coalitions. 

BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan, however, said both parties had not finalised the matter. 

The negotiations, he said, would only be completed after dissolution of the state assemblies. 

PH-BN cooperation 

“There has already been a political change (unity government). I don’t see the green wave being a strong factor in the upcoming polls,” Mazlan said, referring to the rise of PAS in the recent general election. 

“Umno can rise again with the help of PH; the youth vote that previously went to PN will shift to Umno. 

“Umno can attract the Malay voters, unlike some PH component parties who will not be able to win over voters in traditional Malay areas. 

“Seats that were previously given to Bersatu can be given to Umno. The characteristics of Umno and Bersatu are more or less the same,” he added. 

No overlap between parties

Selangor Umno Youth leader Mohd Imran Tamrin said the party would not contest seats held by PH. 

“We won’t go for seats won by PH. We leave it to the leadership to decide.” 

Imran, who is also the Sungai Panjang assemblyman, said negotiations would allow BN component parties like MCA and MIC to get seats to contest too.  

“It is not appropriate for Umno and BN to only compete for five seats; there should be other seats so that cooperation can be seen as this is a comprehensive collaboration. 

“And it is also not possible for Umno to contest all the 36 Malay-majority seats,” he said. 

Imran hoped that cooperation with the unity government would restore support for the party. 

“In the unity government, we study all aspects including the winnability of seats. If PH has the potential to win, but the seat is given to Umno, then Umno will win with the support of PH,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Awang Azman Awang Pawi from Universiti Malaya said the cooperation between BN and PH at grassroots level would be severely tested. 

“No sabotage, protest, and sulking will ensure their victory. With close cooperation between Umno and PH, their chances of victory are greater,” he said. 

He said Umno could be given the seats won by Bersatu and PAS to contest. 

“But they need to ensure votes are not split in PN-held areas,” he added. – May 7, 2023.