FOR now, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has decided to leave Barisan Nasional, but others in East Malaysia will follow suit.

Expect the trickle to turn into a gush as political parties leave BN in a vote of no-confidence and out of a desire to stay relevant for the state elections.

In Sabah, Upko, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) walked out of BN within a week following the May 9 polls.

Now, PBB in Sarawak has said unofficially that it is pulling out of the coalition, taking along with it 13 parliamentary seats from BN’s 79, while pledging support to the Pakatan Harapan government in matters of interest to the state and the nation. 

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) assistant professor Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said Sabah and Sarawak BN parties have never depended much on BN to survive.

“It is not impossible for them to go. Without leadership in BN, such exits will happen even faster,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

University of Tasmania’s director of the Asia Institute James Chin also expects BN to lose more Borneo partners in days to come.

“Sabah Umno may form a new party or join others. Sarawak BN might form a new coalition and try to be friendly with PH,” he said.

A sinking ship

But defecting Borneo partners are not the only problems BN will face in coming days.

Following the unprecedented defeat in the 14th general election, Najib Razak announced his resignation from his post in BN.

His political demise and the lack of any viable replacement will lead to disunity and infighting between BN, said Tunku Mohar from IIUM.

He said the terrible losses suffered by the race-based coalition has led its component parties to question their relevance in the new Malaysian political landscape.

“The idea of BN was to have members that represented certain ethnic groups like MCA and Gerakan for the Chinese and MIC for the Indians.

“They have failed to fulfil that role, so it is now perceived that they are of no use in BN.

“The rationale of BN’s existence is now challenged,” he said.

Total reform for Umno impossible

The key to survival for all BN parties, especially Umno, is transformation, said Chin from the University of Tasmania.

But while that change could come easier for BN’s smaller and newer component parties, change would be a lot harder to come by for Umno, he said.

Looking at the track record of the party’s leaders, Chin said any reform would only be “half-hearted”, as all those who have declared they were contesting in the coming party polls were “old guys from Najib’s gang”.

“For a party that was in power for 61 years, you would need to commit political ‘harakiri’ (ritual suicide) to achieve a total reform,” said Chin.

Some of the old faces who are contesting for top posts in the party polls include former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (president), former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Mohamad Hasan (deputy president), and Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Controversial Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Yunos, who is now wanted by the police, is after the Umno Youth chief post. Another controversial figure, blogger Papagomo, or Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, is running for a youth exco post.

Tunku Mohar said new Umno leaders will need to distance themselves from Najib.

But Tengku Razaleigh, who is 81 and considering the party presidency, has never been seen to be from the ex-prime minister’s gang, may also lack the drive to bring about real transformation to the party.

“Ku Li can distance himself from Najib,” said Tunku Mohar.

“But as a leader, he may not be able to bring much change to Umno. His leadership will likely be more conservative and royalist.” – June 8, 2018.