Amanah has bright future but needs to improve image, say pundits

 

Amanah has to bring its young leaders to the forefront and reduce its reliance on senior leaders, says an analyst. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Despite having won only eight seats in the 15th general election (GE15), analysts believe Amanah still has a bright future in the country’s political landscape.

Faizal Musa of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said that some external factors had hindered Amanah’s progress.

“It could be the narrative or myth that DAP is behind Amanah and all other such slander hurled at the party,” he told FMT.

He said that this was exacerbated by the support of conservative Muslims in the north and east coast states to PAS.

Faizal, who is a renowned author and writes under the pen name Faisal Tehrani, is a researcher at UKM’s Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation.

“PAS had sown its seeds (in these states) long ago. The same is true for Perlis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) lecturer Mujibu Abd Muis said that Amanah had failed to translate its moderate Islam image into votes.

This was despite the country’s multiracial demography that is well suited to its political ideology.

“Amanah has to bring its young leaders to the forefront and reduce its reliance on senior leaders,” he said.

“This will remove the public’s perception that it is just a PAS splinter party.”

Mujibu also said that the Mohamad Sabu-led party must now use its role as part of the government to strengthen its presence and speak up.

He added that Amanah also needs to prove that the party can stand on its own without being linked to PKR or Pakatan Harapan (PH). - FMT