Rantau defeat: Harapan failed to see bread and butter trump big issues

The Pakatan Harapan government's emphasis on big issues over bread and butter matter contributed to the ruling coalition's series of by-election defeats, the recent being in Rantau. 

This is according to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's political analyst Mazlan Ali who stressed that ultimately, people's main concerns were about their survival rather than big issues or reforms.

The government had in December last year tabled an audit on Lembaga Tabung Haji in the Dewan Rakyat, highlighting financial wrongdoings in the pilgrimage fund. 

Last week it also tabled a White Paper on Felda, highlighting billions in alleged corruption by the previous government and its plan on the troubled state-owned plantation giant. 

Earlier today, the government also announced RM21.5 billion in savings from renegotiating the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project. 

However, Mazlan (photo) said such major issues do not resonate with the electorate.

"The people don't care about big issues and reforms. Their concern is only on survival. In the short run, when it comes to economic matters, the people are losing patience (tidak boleh bertahan)," Mazlan told Malaysiakini.

He said the government failed to address the rising cost of living as well as the restructuring of financial aid BR1M to the people.

The opposition's narratives that the position of Islam, the monarchy, and the Malays are at risk after Umno no longer in power had also enticed the voters to vote for them.

Complacent syndrome

Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) strategic research institute director Mohd Mizan Aslam opined that Harapan is having a complacent syndrome after winning the 14th general election, which resulted in people's support for it to plummet.

"Before when they were not in power, they had a clear direction, but now that they are in power, they have lost their focus.

"Harapan no longer prioritise the problems and worries of the people. The position of Islam is eroded, the Malays have lost its supremacy.

"The people are worried," Mizan said, adding that the lack of control on freedom of speech, media freedom, and human rights will backfire.  

Another political analyst Azmi Hassan said Harapan candidate Dr S Streram was not a rival to Umno's Mohamad Hasan. The latter was much likeable by the Rantau voters.

Streram's candidacy was a victory to BN, he added.

"The candidacy factor played an important role. The announcement of Streram as the candidate against Tok Mat (Mohamad) was already a victory to BN. There was also an internal dispute over Streram's candidacy," he said.

In the last general election, the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar won the seat uncontested after Streram was barred from filing his nomination papers.

Streram filed an election petition and the courts ordered that a by-election be held. - Mkini