UG needs to consolidate for next GE, not take risks

 No News Is Bad News

 

https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2023-36-why-malaysias-unity-government-will-probably-survive-by-kai-ostwald/ (2023/36 “Why Malaysia’s Unity Government Will (Probably) Survive” by Kai Ostwald)

UG needs to consolidate for next GE, not take risks

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16, 2023: Political analyst Mazlan Ali says there is no guarantee Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters will back Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the coming elections in six states.

In fact, Mazlan failed to face reality - that the Anwar Ibrahim-led Unity Government (UG) of 19 political parties is under tremendous threat by the Taliban-like PAS-dominated Perikatan Nasional (PN).

It is, therefore, too soon to assume anything as the UG needs time to strengthen its political foundation until the next general election (GE).

After all, what Mazlan said about BN is to No News Is Bad News “outdated and not reality” because BN is no more politically relevant to Malaysian voters.

Both MCA and MIC have been soundly rejected in the last three general elections and are unable to win in their community-dominated seats as they have lost the confidence of Malaysians after 60 years of failed leadership.

BN is no more relevant - only Umno is still relevant.

If MCA and MIC are truly repentant and sincere to their communities, they should sit out in the state elections and let Umno and PH to “battle” with PAS and PN for the future of next elections.

Should Umno and PH fail to win convincingly in the coming state elections, then Malaysians must be prepared for Taliban-like rule as the country steps backward in all matters of socio-economic progress or development.

So, why should Umno, DAP and PKR give up their incumbency for MCA and MIC? It makes no political difference or equation whether they are in BN or elsewhere.

It is only natural and realistic for Umno and PH to defend all its current seats while Umno should get the giant share of Malay-majority seats over PKR in states like Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

The other states to hold elections are Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

There must be political stability for Anwar and his UG to heal Malaysia’s economy that is saddled with a more than RM1.5 trillion national debt.

At the same time, Umno, PH, Sabah and Sarawak must consolidate their political strength for the next general election.

For that and to win the confidence of Malaysians, they must ensure that the economy grows and show promise for the future and national unity.

Malaysians have no choice but to reject racial and religious bigots in the Opposition, and perhaps a few in the UG, who only know how to spew sentiments to win votes.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below related stories:

Risky to let BN contest Negeri Sembilan strongholds, PH told

Political analyst Mazlan Ali says there is no guarantee PH supporters will back BN candidates.

Elill Easwaran - 16 Jun 2023, 7:30am

 

Political analyst Mazlan Ali (left) says it is too soon to assume that PH supporters will back BN candidates, but Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan says PH should re-evaluate their position given BN’s strength in Negeri Sembilan.

 

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) would be taking a huge risk by allowing Barisan Nasional (BN) to stand in its urban strongholds in Negeri Sembilan, says a political analyst.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the strength of PH and BN’s partnership has yet to be properly tested at the ballot box.

He said it was risky to assume that PH voters will back BN candidates and vice-versa, and this could lead to a loss of support and seats.

“The safest route is for both coalitions to contest in their strongholds based on the previous election’s results,” he told FMT.

Mazlan was commenting on Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias’ call for the composition of elected representatives in urban areas to reflect the alliance between BN and PH.

Urban seats have largely been dominated by Pakatan Harapan, especially DAP and PKR since the 2008 general election.

Mazlan said PH and BN should use the coming state elections as a testing ground to gauge the public’s response to their alliance in advance of the next general election.

“If they see the PH supporters voting for BN candidates, and vice versa, then in GE16 they can swap strongholds. For now, it’s too risky.”

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Umno grassroots would view PH more positively if it is willing to give up some seats in Negeri Sembilan to BN.

“I think PH needs to re-evaluate the strength of Umno in Negeri Sembilan,” he told FMT, adding that Umno was strong in the state.

In the last general election, Negeri Sembilan was the only state which Perikatan Nasional failed to make inroads into.

Azmi said PH would improve its standing among Umno grassroots, who still have doubts over the call to cooperate with PH, especially DAP.

The relationship between the two coalitions would benefit from sacrifices PH makes in favour of BN, he said. - FMT

MALAYSIA

Unity govt leaders mum on seat allocation for state elections

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli says discussions went well, providing no further details

Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 16 Jun 2023 7:45AM

According to reports, Rafizi Ramli said prior to the meeting that final negotiations would focus on the agreement of the component parties in the unity government in determining the seat allocations. – ALIF OMAR/The Vibes pic, June 16, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR – Questions still surround the seat allocation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) for state elections in six states after leaders who attended last night’s meeting kept their silence.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli did say that the discussions he chaired last night went well, but he declined to elaborate.

“No comment on the details, but it went well,” he told reporters when met at Dato’ Onn Tower, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, last night.

Unity government leaders who attended the three-hour meeting included BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Terengganu Umno chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, DAP deputy secretary-general Liew Chin Tong, and Amanah communications director Khalid Abd Samad. 

Rafizi was reported to have said earlier in the day that final negotiations would focus on the agreement of the component parties in the unity government in determining the seat allocations.

Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Kelantan are slated to hold their state elections this year. – Bernama, June 16, 2023

 No News Is Bad News

Umno president Zahid Hamidi (left) and Pakatan Harapan leader and 10^th Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are the pillars of national unity with Sarawak and Sabah.

BN is irrelevant BUT Umno remains relevant to Unity Govt

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2, 2023: A letter published by Free Malaysia Today titled Barisan Nasional – Out Of Date Or Still Relevant?

No News Is Bad News’ answer is YES! Barisan Nasional (BN) is politically irrelevant BUT Umno is still relevant as long as it continues with its surprising “change” in championing national unity and a united Malaysians for Malaysia.

The major BN coalition partners - MCA and MIC (Gerakan is with the Taliban-like PAS dominated Pakatan Nasional) - are clearly politically irrelevant after they were soundly rejected in the past three consecutive general election.

Whether they are in the BN or not, makes no difference to the majority of Malaysian voters.

Their folly is to continue to dwell in politics for their survival and largesse that comes with political power. Constructive governance and politics are beyond their comprehension.

They are unable to change to try and win back the confidence of Malaysians in them, unlike Umno whiach is showing some semblance of unity for Malaysians in politics.

As long as the Umno president Zahid Hamidi continues with his “rational” brand of politics for Malaysians and Malaysia, Malaysian voters are likely to have faith and confidence in him and Umno to promote the longevity of Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government.

And it must be said that both Zahid and Anwar are also supported by Sarawak and Sabah.

Malaysians are reminded that in Malaysian politics, it is true and practical that “there are no permanent enemies or friends” in a multi-racial, multi-religious nation.

Malaysians need to adapt to positive political changes and rality.

Now News Is Bad News reproduces below the letter published by Free Malaysia Today:

OPINION

LETTER | Barisan Nasional – Out Of Date Or Still Relevant?

Letter to Editor

written by Kamarudin Ahmad Wednesday, 31 May, 2023 1 comment

 

The major loss of parliamentary seats in the recent GE 15 begs the question: Is Barisan Nasional still relevant in the current political landscape?

Since the country achieved independence, Barisan Nasional (BN) has always won the majority seats in Parliament.

Originally, BN started as ALLIANCE comprising United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). Politics was very much simplified in the ’50s and ’60s. However, things took a radical change with the 13 May 1969 racial riots (May 13) that tore the nation apart. The Democratic Action Party (DAP), representing the Chinese voters, was blamed for the May 13 incident. A National Operations Council was set up to cool the heated political situation.

That’s when the leaders decided to set up BN with the purpose of promoting racial integration. The biggest mistake then was the non inclusion of DAP. Politics continued along racial lines with DAP stirring up racial sentiments amongst the Chinese voters. Consequently, MCA lost the support of the Chinese voters, but MIC managed to maintain the support of Indian voters.

Barisan Nasional Began To Lose Control

BN began to lose Parliamentary elections beginning with the 12th General Election held in 2008 with Selangor falling to the opposition PKR. Further decline took place in the 13th General Election held in 2013. The climax was the 14th General Election held in 2018 where BN lost control of the Federal Government. Pakatan Harapan (PH) formed the new Federal Government with Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister.

Malaysians voted for change under the PH slogan “Selamatkan Malaysia.” Unfortunately, the situation worsened due to political infighting inside PH. A component party BERSATU pull out support for the PH Government, resulting in loss of majority in Parliament. Consequently, Dr Mahathir resigned as the Prime Minister, bringing down the PH Government.

In a twist of fate Muhyiddin Yassin formed the new government based on the counting of Statutory Declarations (SD) that supported him as Prime Minister with SD from UMNO/BN, PAS, and parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

It was another failed attempt to provide a good government for the country. More infightings in the coalition government of Muhyiddin resulted in the Emergency Proclamation made by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong (YDPA) at the behest of then Prime Minister Muhyiddin.

The climax in the infighting was UMNO/ BN pulling out its support for Muhyiddin as PM.

Another process of counting SDs was made in 2022 and Ismail Sabri from UMNO/ BN got the majority support to be the Prime Minister. Still the country did not progress under Ismail, culminating in the dissolution of Parliament and the country faced the 15th General Election in November 2022.

Hung Parliament

For the first time in the history of Malaysia, not a single party obtained the majority seats of 112 MP to form the Federal Government. A Hung Parliament was the outcome of GE 15.

PH, with the largest number of seats with over 80 MPs failed to get the support of Perikatan Nasional (PN) to form a coalition government.

Also read:- New Landscape Of Political Engagement in Malaysia: How Can We Map It?

It was UMNO/BN that came to the rescue of PH, and at the behest of the King, and resolve the political stalemate created by the Hung Parliament.

We can thus conclude that UMNO/BN adopted a rational approach in its dealings with PH. Despite internal protests, UMNO/BN President Zahid took the plunge by forming a coalition government with PH.

The new government, popularly known as “Kerajaan Perpaduan” would not be possible without Zahid’s strong historical ties with Anwar. And the country benefit with Anwar as PM and Zahid as DPM.

No murmurings of political squabble between PH and BN. No talks of MPs jumping ship to destabilise the Kerajaan Perpaduan (Unity Government).

Both Anwar and Zahid exude confidence for the government to last until next GE 16.

 

Both Anwar (Pakatan Harapan) and Zahid (Barisan Nasional) exude confidence for the government to last until next GE 16.

Thanks to the rational policy of BN, the country is moving forward without any hiccups.

Yes, the answer is BN still relevant in the political landscape of Malaysia. – mediahit

The writer is a practising lawyer and NGO activist.

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the management of newmediahit.com.