Bersama’s entry a boon for PN, says analyst

 Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s new platform could split non-Malay votes in mixed seats, which would likely benefit PN.

Rafizi Ramli says Bersama is gunning for progressive-minded voters that make up the bulk of Pakatan Harapan’s support.

PETALING JAYA:

Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s decision to leave PKR and establish a new political platform, Parti Bersama Malaysia, could ultimately benefit Perikatan Nasional (PN), according to an analyst.

Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said that by appealing to progressive voters, Bersama risks splitting the non-Malay vote and potentially opening the door for a PN victory, particularly in mixed constituencies.

She said the spotlight in these constituencies, generally accepted as Pakatan Harapan (PH) strongholds, would fall on Malay voters.

“PN’s best bet is to focus on Malay voters. If they can secure a good share of the Malay vote, that might be enough in marginal seats, where the other parties would split the non-Malay or so-called liberal voters.

“Presently, we know that PN’s support base would mostly be Malays. It would be a waste of resources for PN to try to court the non-Malays.

“Some Indian voters might support PN, but I doubt Chinese voters would do the same,” she told FMT.

Syaza said another key priority for PN would be strategising to secure post-election alliances, especially with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and even Barisan Nasional (BN).

With the next general election (GE16) widely expected to return a hung parliament, he expects post-election alliances to be decisive in determining who governs Putrajaya, in the same way the unity government was formed after GE15 in November 2022.

“I think the way to woo BN is straightforward, just play the Malay card. But when it comes to GPS, the question is what can PN realistically offer to secure its support and whether GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg can withstand internal pressure not to work with PAS.

“So it depends on how PAS deals with this,” Syaza said.

On Monday, Rafizi said Bersama was gunning for the same segment of voters that make up the bulk of PH’s support – progressive-minded voters – which, he claimed, represented between 35% and 40% of the electorate.

He said Bersama wanted to offer them, as well as young voters, an alternative at the ballot box.

Be more inclusive to woo post-election partners, PN told

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said PN should project a more inclusive image and expand its reach to attract GPS and GRS if it hopes to form the government.

Fauzi said former opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin and other ex-Bersatu MPs aligned with him understand this necessity, pointing to the narratives being pushed by his Reset movement.

“PN should focus on broadening its appeal beyond the traditional Malay heartlands. This includes, of course, its relationships with both GRS and GPS.

“This would increase its chances of being favoured over PH and/or BN, should a hung parliament recur, as in the 2022 general election,” he said.

Fauzi also expects PN to bank on its Malay support to win GE16, with the goal of wresting even more Umno strongholds to emerge as “undisputed champion in Malay-majority constituencies”.

PN won a total of 74 seats in GE15, thanks largely to PAS, which won 43, the most by a single party.

Bersatu won 31 but now has 19 following a series of defections and the purging of Muhyiddin’s opponents, including Hamzah.

PN nonetheless continues to dominate Malay support up north and on the east coast of the peninsula. It has also made significant inroads in Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, all of which are currently governed by PH and BN. - FMT