PERIKATAN Nasional’s (PN) representatives said its leaders are confident of snaring non-Malay voters in the coming Johor by-elections. 

They dismissed findings by independent pollsters that PN was not able to garner support from non-Malays in the recent six state polls due to their “Malay Muslim” stand. 

Bersatu information chief Razali Idris said although some of its candidates, especially from Gerakan, lost to Pakatan Harapan (PH), the margins were small. 

PN won Malay-majority seats in Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan, and they denied PH a two-thirds majority for the first time in 15 years in Selangor. 

“It was not we didn’t get the support from non-Malays. It was just not enough for us to win,” Razali, who is a senator, said. 

“The margins, if you look at it, were just a few hundred, not even close to 1,000. 

“That is why, for the by-elections in Johor we are giving the mandate to the non-Malay wings in Bersatu and PAS to approach non-Malay voters. 

“They (non-Malays) have actually noticed us. We just need a little more work to convince them,” Razali said. 

The Kijal assemblyman said non-Malays began to warm up to PN after the state polls. 

“We are getting positive feedback from this segment and if we can push harder, we can succeed.” 

He said 80% of the Malay voters are with PN and they need to flex their muscles to gain the support of non-Malays. 

Previously, UiTM Institution of Malay Rulers Chair fellow Mujibu Abd Muis said PN had shifted more towards the right to court Malay voters. 

Wong Chin Huat, a political expert from Sunway University, agreed that PN would likely intensify its right-leaning stance. 

This strategic move would be in response to PN’s unsuccessful bid to secure non-Malay votes through Gerakan, as was evident in both the last general election and the recent state polls. 

Tackling economic policy and integrity 

Meanwhile, Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin admitted that PN did not enjoy much support from non-Malays.

He said this was due to DAP’s green wave narrative that caused fear among Chinese and Indians. 

“But the green wave narrative Lim Kit Siang played backfired. The Malays backed us,” Badrul said. 

“Having said that, we need to improve our approach by tackling economic policy and federal issues. 

“We are slowly getting to that. We need to talk more about integrity and at the same time, strengthen our position in the Malay-Muslim segment,” said the former PKR man. 

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the problem lay with PAS. 

He said PAS’ move to join Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Malay Proclamation movement pushed non-Malays away from PN. 

“Gerakan and Bersatu will have a tough time explaining to the people about PAS’ decision. PAS will find it hard to attract non-Malays. 

“In PN, PAS is more dominant than Bersatu or Gerakan,” Mazlan said. 

The Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, which will be held on September 9, were triggered by the death of Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub on July 23. 

PH is fielding Suhaizan Kaiat in Pulai and Nazri Abdul Rahman in Simpang Jeram, both areas witnessing three-cornered fights with PN and Independent candidates. – August 31, 2023.