Economic successes key to mitigating Zahid factor in polls, says analyst

 

Observers say Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s divisive and unpopular leadership are among the reasons for Umno’s dismal performance in GE15. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The best way for the government to fight negative perceptions linked to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is to work towards lowering the cost of living, according to an analyst.

Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said the unity government must be seen to be making life better for the public, especially the Malays.

The result of last general election (GE15) indicated a swing of Malay support from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan towards Perikatan Nasional, which won 74 parliamentary seats, most of which are Malay-majority.

Ads by Kiosked

Observers have said Zahid’s divisive and unpopular leadership, along with his corruption trial, were among the reasons for Umno’s dismal performance in GE15 and that this could weigh on PH in the coming six state elections.

Jeniri noted that the opposition had been playing up the issue of Zahid being a liability to the government and that the Court of Appeal’s decision to permanently return his passport to him would be exploited by rivals of BN and PH.

“There is no doubt that Zahid’s ongoing trial as well as the no-contest for the Umno presidency have created all sorts of perceptions that the opposition will try to exploit,” he told FMT.

“I personally do not think he is a liability, but if the government wants to mitigate the perceptions, it needs to go to town with its success stories. Issues such as the cost of living, employment and housing matter more to the masses, especially the Malays.”

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said he believed Zahid’s issues would have very little effect on the state elections.

“The almost single determining factor, except in Penang, is likely to be a contest of religiosity and appearance of piety between the two sides of the political divide,” he told FMT.

Ads by Kiosked

He said he did not see Zahid as being a liability to the unity government because he would hold Umno together ahead of the elections.

On whether PH and BN would be able to secure the Malay vote in the six state elections, Oh said it would depend largely on the unity government’s ability to be seen as upholding the racial and religious interests of the community. - FMT