BN’s MB candidates must be free of baggage to topple PAS, says analyst

 

PAS-held Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu and PH-controlled Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor must hold their elections within the next four months. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An analyst speculates that Barisan Nasional has a chance at clinching victory in the upcoming state elections in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu as long as its menteri besar candidates do not carry any political baggage.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara told FMT he believed it was important for Umno, the main component of BN, to put up the list of menteri besar candidates as soon as possible.

“It is critical to convince voters in these three states, which are Malay-majority areas, that their interests will be safeguarded,” he said.

Azmi said it was important for BN’s menteri besar candidates to be “strong and likeable” to wrest the three states from PAS.

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He also said veteran politicians in Umno should make way for new candidates with experience.

“The party has to nominate fresh faces who are experienced in terms of administration and who aren’t tied up with Umno’s political baggage,” he said.

“It is also good to select a technocrat like current Terengganu PAS menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

“The ball is in Umno’s court to convince voters that it is serious about getting back these three states.”

Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan have remained as PAS strongholds. The party has governed Kelantan for more than three decades.

Last Sunday, a news report quoted Amanah communications director Khalid Samad as saying the menteri besar positions were likely to be given to BN although the potential candidates must be decided in consultation with PH.

However, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied that PH would allow BN to name its menteri besar candidates if it wins the elections in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Zahid said Khalid was not even involved in the unity government’s secretariat meeting. The secretariat has yet to discuss the matter, he added.

Another analyst, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya, said selecting menteris besar from BN was no big surprise since the coalition was Perikatan Nasional’s main challenger in the three states.

“It is a strategic and realistic decision to put BN forward for the post,” he said. “PH is not viewed as having a great influence in the three states.”

Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and PH-controlled Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor must hold their elections within the next four months.

Last week, MCA president Wee Ka Siong said seat negotiations for the elections will be finalised by the parties in the unity government by mid-April. - FMT