PH, BN playing it safe over Negeri Sembilan MB candidate

 

Caretaker menteri besar Aminuddin Harun has not been nominated as menteri besar candidate for Negeri Sembilan, suggesting someone is being earmarked by PH-BN for the state’s top post, says an analyst.

PETALING JAYA: Two analysts believe Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) are keeping mum on their candidate for menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan to avoid a backlash from the grassroots of both coalitions.

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi said the coalitions have refrained from naming any candidate as “poster boy” for the Aug 12 polls to avoid any friction capable of affecting their performance in the election.

“I believe that PH-BN does not want to announce their Negeri Sembilan menteri besar candidate to avoid dissatisfaction and to avoid triggering any negative sentiments (from the grassroots),” he told FMT.

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Meanwhile, Tunku Mohar Mokhtar of the International Islamic University Malaysia said the grassroots of both coalitions may rebel if the wrong person is named for the state’s top post.

This, he said, is one possible reason why BN and PH may have not reached a consensus on who to name as their candidate for the post.

“A poster boy may boost PH-BN in mobilising voters, but if that person creates dissatisfaction among the grassroots, it would certainly backfire.”

PH has announced that Amirudin Shari and Chow Kon Yeow would take on another term as the Selangor menteri besar and Penang chief minister, respectively, if they retain the states.

However, PH and BN will only name their candidate for menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan if they win the state in the Aug 12 polls.

Aminuddin Harun, a PKR vice-president, is currently caretaker Negeri Sembilan menteri besar. He is the first non-Umno Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, after PH wrested the state from BN for the first time during the 2018 general election.

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Awang Azman said not announcing Aminuddin as the candidate meant there is a high possibility someone else would be named menteri besar if PH-BN defeat Perikatan Nasional at the polls.

“When the current menteri besar is not announced as the candidate for the elections, there is a high probability the (menteri besar) will change.

“Another reason could be that the demand for the post is so high that other candidates are being considered for the position,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tunku Mohar said both PH and BN need to put their differences aside, strike a united front and make “meaningful policies” the backbone of their campaign in Negeri Sembilan.

This, he said, would be key to garnering support across the state. - FMT