PETALING JAYA: Political observers warn that Barisan Nasional (BN) faces a tough election battle and may lose the popular vote in the upcoming polls although the ruling coalition is still expected to retain Putrajaya.
In a report by The Straits Times, Bernama chairman Azman Ujang and former Bernama head Kalimullah Hassan said BN would be hampered by cost of living issues and public unhappiness over government scandals.
“While I am sure that BN will again lose the popular vote in the next general election, I am not so sure it will lose parliamentary majority,” Kalimullah was quoted as saying.
Azman meanwhile said the conflict within Pakatan Harapan (PH) would stymie its efforts to take federal power in the 14th general election (GE14).
He added that BN would likely retain votes in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the rural Malay vote.
“With the opposition parties not united, in simple maths this will benefit BN,” he said in the report.
BN lost the popular vote for the first time in the 2013 general election.
However, it retained Putrajaya, winning 133 parliamentary seats out of 222, with then-opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat winning 89.
On Sunday, PH announced that its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be prime minister if the opposition wins in GE14, with PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy.
It also announced the seat distribution for the peninsular parliamentary seats, with PPBM getting 52; PKR, 51; DAP, 35; and Amanah, 27.
Mahathir was Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister, holding the position from 1981 to 2003.
PH said he would serve as “interim prime minister” while it pursues all legal avenues to free Anwar Ibrahim from prison. -FMT
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