Too soon to rebrand PN-BN alliance, analyst says

 The coalitions should first convince their supporters that the alliance is feasible, considering that BN and PN were previously at odds, says Syaza Shukri.

Analyst Syaza Shukri said BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi referred to the collaboration as an ‘understanding’ specifically for the Negeri Sembilan polls.

PETALING JAYA:

Rebranding the collaboration between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) as “Perikatan Barisan Nasional” would be premature, an analyst says.

Syaza Shukri.

Syaza Shukri said the coalitions should first convince their supporters that the alliance is feasible, considering that BN and PN were previously at odds.

Syaza said the proposal by Parti Wawasan Negara president Hamzah Zainudin to name the BN-PN alliance would also create the impression that an official pact had been forged between the coalitions.

She noted that BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had only referred to the collaboration as an “understanding” specifically for the Negeri Sembilan polls.

“The main objective for BN and PN is to convince their voters why they should support a coalition they were previously at loggerheads with.

“There’s no need to rush into rebranding the collaboration,” Syaza, of International Islamic University Malaysia, told FMT.

She also said that rebranding the alliance would confuse voters and create the impression that it was similar to the now-defunct Muafakat Nasional (MN).

She said such confusion would make it difficult for the coalitions to explain the cooperation during the state polls, which will see BN contesting 25 seats while PN vies for the remaining 11.

MN was an electoral pact between Umno and PAS, forged in 2019 following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 2018 general election.

Aimed at consolidating the Malay-Muslim vote, the alliance effectively collapsed the following year after PAS partnered with Bersatu to form PN.

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri.

Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting did not rule out the possibility that a rebranding of the alliance could cause anxiety among BN voters.

The fact that “Perikatan” comes before “Barisan Nasional” could create the perception that PN is the dominant force in the alliance, he said.

“From a psychological perspective, it suggests that BN plays second fiddle to PN.”

He said while Hamzah might have intended to close the gap between PN and BN, Umno and BN grassroots supporters might take a different view.

“BN grassroots may perceive it as a step down for a brand that controlled the federal government for 61 years.” - FMT