Risky to let BN contest Negeri Sembilan strongholds, PH told

 

Political analyst Mazlan Ali (left) says it is too soon to assume that PH supporters will back BN candidates, but Akademi Nusantara’s Azmi Hassan says PH should re-evaluate their position given BN’s strength in Negeri Sembilan.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) would be taking a huge risk by allowing Barisan Nasional (BN) to stand in its urban strongholds in Negeri Sembilan, says a political analyst.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the strength of PH and BN’s partnership has yet to be properly tested at the ballot box.

He said it was risky to assume that PH voters will back BN candidates and vice-versa, and this could lead to a loss of support and seats.

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“The safest route is for both coalitions to contest in their strongholds based on the previous election’s results,” he told FMT.

Mazlan was commenting on Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias’ call for the composition of elected representatives in urban areas to reflect the alliance between BN and PH.

Urban seats have largely been dominated by Pakatan Harapan, especially DAP and PKR since the 2008 general election.

Mazlan said PH and BN should use the coming state elections as a testing ground to gauge the public’s response to their alliance in advance of the next general election.

“If they see the PH supporters voting for BN candidates, and vice versa, then in GE16 they can swap strongholds. For now, it’s too risky.”

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Umno grassroots would view PH more positively if it is willing to give up some seats in Negeri Sembilan to BN.

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“I think PH needs to re-evaluate the strength of Umno in Negeri Sembilan,” he told FMT, adding that Umno was strong in the state.

In the last general election, Negeri Sembilan was the only state which Perikatan Nasional failed to make inroads into.

Azmi said PH would improve its standing among Umno grassroots, who still have doubts over the call to cooperate with PH, especially DAP.

The relationship between the two coalitions would benefit from sacrifices PH makes in favour of BN, he said. - FMT