WATER woes in Kelantan, Kedah’s claim to Penang and corruption cases involving Bersatu leaders are some of the issues that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) may bank on in the run-up to the state elections, political observers said.

On the other hand, Perikatan Nasional would try to highlight the failures of the Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government in reviving the economy and curtailing the rise in the cost of living, and project itself (PN) as the true protector of the Malay/Islam agenda in the country, the analysts said.

They said PH and BN will also use the polls as a referendum for the policies they have been promoting in the last six months.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia senior lecturer Mazlan Ali said the state elections are crucial for all three coalitions to show they have the people’s support.

“The parties that fail to get the voters’ support will only show how far they have fallen in the country’s political landscape,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

For him, the main issues that will be used in the campaigning include the high cost of living, the weakening of the ringgit and the increase in the overnight policy rate.

On issues related to race and religion, Mazlan said the recent controversy over the use of the word “Allah” would be revived to show who protects the Malay race and Islamic religion better.

“This is what PN may do to attract voters,” he said.

“However, the unity government may counter them by saying the administration is stable and the people should support it as it works towards political and economic stability.

“The unity government may also play up issues on the integrity of PN leaders, such as the court cases that PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin is facing.”

Mazlan said apart from national issues, the coalitions would also play up localised problems in all six states.  

“For example, in Kelantan, the parties will focus on the water problem. The PH/BN pact will say Kelantan needs a change in government to solve the crisis.

“In Terengganu, the unity government may raise issues of the lack of significant development under the PAS administration.

“So it may say it is better for the voters to support PH and BN, which are also partners in the federal government.”

Mazlan said the unity government may also raise the issue of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s recent claim over Penang’s sovereignty.

Of the six states heading for polls, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang are in the hands of PH while PAS/PN controls Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

The PAS states are much less developed than the other three states.

Mazlan said PN parties PAS and Bersatu would highlight the popular support for them in last year’s general election to show that they are still strong and relevant in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

In the polls, PN parties made a clean sweep of the federal seats in Kelantan and Terengganu, and lost only one seat in Kedah.

Playing up religion

University of Tasmania political analyst James Chin said PN would surely play up the cost of living issue to garner support.

“They will highlight how things are expensive, wages are low, but that’s not their main point.

“For the Malay community, religion is the number one issue. Also racial ethnic issues such as Muslim versus non-Muslims relations.

“Of course, at the state level, the parties will be raising local issues such as what Sanusi is doing, which is quite effective among the Malay community. But I don’t think other races will buy the notion that Kedah owns Penang,” he said.

Chin said the overarching issue for PN is that Anwar is leading a non-Muslim government, while the Malays are marginalised.

“The voters may be fed up now with all these issues, but these are the things they will think about on voting day,” he said.

Oh Ei Sun from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs believes that the elections would be more a contest of religiosity.

This, he said, could be among the primarily Malay voters, and PAS has the overwhelming upper-hand in this regard.

He said while there are other problems that would be raised, religion could be the main issue.

“For many voters, it would appear that religiosity is of much higher concern than livelihood issues,” he said.

Oh said PH and BN are at a disadvantage when it comes to religion.

“This is because they have reform-minded or money-minded supporters who are not as enamoured with religiosity.”

Bersatu Supreme Council member Mohd Rafiq Mohd Abdullah said racial issues are played up by certain parties for political purposes.

“There are actually no racial issues in Malaysia, but it is played up by certain parties to scare the people,” he said.

“In Selangor, there is no racism as the people want progress and the economy to be revived so that it can be a model for other states.”

The Sungai Buloh Bersatu division chief said PN is focused on economic issues in Selangor.

“We are confident that we can do better than the PH-led state government,” he added. – June 6, 2023.