THE August 12 state elections saw stiff competition between the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) pact and Perikatan Nasional (PN). While the results were status quo, it showed a tremendous increase in support for PN.

PN made inroads in states won by PH-BN – Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan – while the Malay heartlands (Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) remained its strongholds.

Analysts said the results indicate increasing racial polarisation as the campaign period was marred by racist and sexist remarks, insults, and hateful rhetoric to attract voters. While PN resorted to racial and religious sentiment to rally support, PH-BN relied on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s image and the notion of unity.

Merdeka Center’s survey, “Perceptions Towards Economy, Leadership and Current Issues Post GE15”, said 55% of respondents are concerned about rising living costs and inflation. Despite Anwar’s government’s constant efforts to address the issue, notably through the Rahmah plan, voters think the initiative is inadequate.

Voters’ second concern was economic growth. While PH-BN controls two economic powerhouses of the country – Penang and Selangor, whose GDP surpasses the national average – the opposite is true in PN-led states.

A 2022 World Bank report “Catching Up: Inclusive Recovery & Growth for Lagging States” showed Kedah and Kelantan have among the highest poverty rates and lowest average income, which brings the question: How did PN retain those states at a higher majority?

And how did PN become an attractive alternative for voters in states that enjoy high economic development despite the coalition’s not-so-rosy administrative track record?

This means PH-BN’s campaigns that highlight inadequate infrastructure and water woes in Kedah and Kelantan are not swaying voters’ support for PAS, instead leading the Islamist party to a higher majority this year than in 2018.

This brings me to assume the development model offered by PH-BN is not attractive to voters, especially to Malay-Muslims who support PAS-led PN (in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu).

On social media, PH supporters mock PN states, showing the basic Kota Bharu bus station and the lack of clean water in some areas in Kelantan and Kedah, to which PN supporters retaliate by saying they do not need development as they see them as destructive in PH-BN states.

To understand this phenomenon, I asked for clarification from the Kelantan people around me. They said economic development is seen as an evil that leads to moral decay, unnecessarily high levels of stress and poor mental health, while the construction of high-rise buildings indicates the end of time.

Perhaps the fault lies with the existing model of economic development, a zero-sum game in which we have to sacrifice the environment and people’s wellness to become materially rich and well-equipped.

Maybe what we see in the state polls is the locals’ resistance towards an economic model they perceive as unsustainable and erosive to their existing way of life. We have seen how Terengganu and Kedah became swing states, unlike Kelantan that has been under PAS for more than 30 years.

Perhaps what PAS, especially as the strongest party in PN, offers them is what they perceive as a sustainable and non-destructive economic development model? A development model that does not necessarily sacrifice the quality of life people enjoy beyond material gain?

Although this argument might be flawed and simplistic, I feel it is worth taking into consideration, especially in building an economic development narrative that fosters the people’s well-being.

The Anwar administration must ensure the positive effects of its Madani Economy, which claims to prioritise people’s empowerment and sustainable economic development, are tangible for the people. – August 17, 2023.

* Rabi’ah Aminudin 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.