Analyst: Chinese bogeymen may scare Malays into Najib’s hands

Fear of Chinese bogeymen may frighten Malay voters into casting their anger aside and vote for embattled Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the next general elections, an analyst says.

“Pakatan Harapan can count on retaining Chinese-majority and urban mixed constituencies in the west coast.

“But all other seats may depend on if the Malays are more angry with Najib or more 'fearful' of the Chinese bogeymen," Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat told Malaysiakini.

He added that this fear is what keeps Umno in power.

"Umno is like a Malay bomoh (shaman) who survives on the fear of Chinese ghosts. Once the Chinese ceases to be a scary ghost, the bomoh will lose his job," Wong said.

In order to overcome this and win over the Malays, the analyst said the opposition must sort out a common position on Islam and a post-New Economic Policy (NEP) economy.

Harapan, he said, cannot remain ambiguous on these issues as before, and must make a stand on issues such as hudud, conversion, and child custody.

NEP alternative needed

He added they also need to find a viable alternative to the NEP, as the policy's end would cause greater anxiety among the Malays, despite its failures.

A stand on these issues would make Harapan a viable and acceptable-by-all alternative to a pro-Malay BN, Wong argued.

"PAS and other third forces will be marginalised. Harapan may stand a good chance to take Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor, other than retaining Penang and Selangor, even if it still fails to capture Putrajaya.

"The Malay heartland will see bitter competition and PAS may lose Kelantan, unless they team up with Umno," Wong said.

The outcome of the last general election, in which BN had its poorest showing in recent times, had provoked Najib to label it a 'Chinese tsunami'.

Umno has since swung further to the right and its supporters have become increasingly anti-Chinese, as shown during the Sept 16 red shirt rally.

Observers say Najib may play to racial sentiments in the coming general elections to distract from his many scandals, including the RM2.6 billion donation and 1MDB’s debts. -Mkini