Wawasan needs to state what it brings to the table, say analysts

 Failure to do so will make Hamzah Zainudin's party seem like a 'new home' for politicians trying to remain relevant.

Hamzah Zainudin (seated fourth from left) and other Wawasan leaders at the party’s extraordinary general meeting in Petaling Jaya on June 20. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Parti Wawasan Negara must spell out what it has to offer voters or risk being viewed as nothing more than “a new home” for former leaders trying to remain relevant, an analyst said.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said that as it stands, Wawasan seems to have cobbled together sacked or suspended former Bersatu leaders as well as veteran politicians.

Former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has been appointed Wawasan president, while Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal were appointed secretary-general and information chief, respectively.

Former Melaka chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan, and former Parti Cinta Malaysia president Huan Cheng Guan are among the party’s vice-presidents.

“Wawasan does come off as a party comprising politicians who are trying to become relevant again.

“This party claims to be a ‘reset’, but it has not been clear what problem it is trying to solve,” Syaza told FMT.

She said Wawasan should also outline how it intends to connect with younger voters, especially since the party comprises politicians “who have been around since the 1980s”.

She believes, however, that Wawasan would be able to attract Bersatu supporters who are no longer confident in the leadership of its president, Muhyiddin Yassin.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Wawasan’s line-up reinforces the notion that it is a Bersatu splinter party formed by disgruntled former members.

He said much of Wawasan’s early appeal comes from the party’s personalities rather than any new idea or struggle.

“At this stage, Wawasan still looks like a platform to rescue and reorganise the political careers of those aligned with Hamzah,” he said.

Awang Azman also said Wawasan must explain what it can offer that Bersatu, PAS or Umno cannot.

He said if the answer revolved only around Hamzah Zainudin’s leadership, Wawasan would remain a personality-driven party. - FMT