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For image info, go to https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/493320 (Malaysia’s dangerous racial, religious trajectory)
Political danger looms in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12, 2023: Malaysians have much to worry about their and the country’s political future.
The 3-3 status quo in the six state elections has revealed an unhealthy political trend towards Malay and non-Malay safe seats.
The Malay safe seats are dominated by PAS-Perikatan Nasional (PN) while the non-Malay safe seats are dominated by DAP-Pakatan Harapan (PH).
DAP won 46 of the 47 seats it contested in the state elections, losing only one in Kedah.
Umno-Barisan Nasional(BN) lost some of its incumbent seats. PAS won with ease in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan - sweeping aside Umno-BN and PH.
PN made a clean sweep of Terengganu - wiping out BN-Umno and PH-PKR. But PH-BN lost its two-thirds majority in Selangor.
There are also clear signs (garnering significant votes) that PAS and PN have also made political inroads in Penang and Negri Sembilan - with PN taking all three state seats in Penang's Permatang Pauh, a parliamentary seat Anwar, his wife and daughter Nurul held for nine terms.
The three seats are Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir and Penanti (contested by PKR, Amanah and Umno)
This means Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (who is PH and Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief) and Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) president Zahid Hamidi, and PN boss Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin clearly are in a political dilemma to steer their coalitions to win in the next general election that must be held in 2027.
*Election Summary: Bridget Walsh MKini Aug 14 2023*
Voter turnout:
M - 70%, C, 65%, Indian, 69%
Compared to GE 15, Malay n Chinese voter drop was -10% but Indian voter drop was highest at -15%.
Indian votes dropped for PH by :
21% in NS, 19% in Pg , 12% Sgor.
Indian votes increased for PN by :
29% in Pg, 19% in NS, 14% Sgor
Chse vote was 98% for PH in all States.
So, Indian voters decreased by -15% n if that’s not enough, Indian votes for PN increased by 29% in Penang n an average of 21% for all 3 States combined.
Malay votes increased by 13.5% average in all 6 States.
Therefore Indian support increase of 21% average for PN was higher than Malay average increase.
What can I say about Indians? Let’s not waste time talking about Malay green wave.
However, the federal Unity Government (UG) is relatively still safe because of the Sarawak and Sabah political bloc that staunchly reject the Taliban-like PAS which has swept the Malay-majority states.
Anwar, especially, has to worry about PH’s future as it is now threatened by the racial and religious PAS bigots.
Umno only has itself to blame for allowing PAS to grow in strength politically without checking its exploitation of race and religion for political mileage for more than 60 years, since Merdeka 1957.
Anwar-Zahid must now find ways to win back the confidence of the majority of Malays for PH-BN while Muhyiddin has to find ways to win the confidence of the non-Malays to win in the mix seats to form the federal government.
Both Anwar-Zahid and Muhyiddin have a daunting political task in the run-up to the 16th General Election (GE16) in 2027, with Muhyiddin needing to win the confidence of the majority of non-Malays, Sarawak and Sabah.
The state elections also show that PN has made significant political inroads in Kedah in mixed seats - with PKR ousted in Kulim by Gerakan-PN, the only state seat the Chinese-majority party won - thanks to PAS Malay votes.
Anwar-Zahid should also not be able to sleep well as PN has lost many seats with respectful majorities while toppling PH in two seats - Selangor PN chairman Azmin Ali in Hulu Kelang and Dr Afif Bahardin in Taman Medan.
And in Gombak Setia, Selangor BN and Umno chairman (since November 2022) Megat Zulkarnain Omardin (BN) lost to PN.
It is also significant to note that the electronic social media has posted reports claiming that PN had taken the early lead in the ballot counts in seats in Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan because of the early votes cast by policemen and soldiers.
If true, that is a significant worrying factor for the UG.
Political pundits, observers and investors (both local and foreign) will, therefore, keep a real close watch on the political strategies and actions PH-BN and PN will take for political mileage in the run-up to GE16.
State polls: Perikatan takes 146 seats overall, while Pakatan settles for 99
Sunday, 13 Aug 2023
12:19 AM MYT
PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional has taken 146 seats while Pakatan Harapan has won 99 seats in all six states as of midnight Saturday (Aug 12).
In Selangor, Pakatan won 34 seats while Perikatan won 22 seats,
In Penang, Pakatan won 29 seats while Perikatan won 11 seats.
In Negri Sembilan, 31 seats went to Pakatan while the remaining five went to Perikatan.
Perikatan won all 32 seats in Terengganu while in Kelantan Pakatan won two seats with the remaining 43 seats going to Perikatan. - The Star
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