Khalid’s ‘Umno best for Malays’ remark true within PH-BN, say analysts

 

Khalid Samad’s recent comments about Umno was simply an attempt to help a political ally, analysts said.

PETALING JAYA: Amanah communications director Khalid Samad’s recent claim that Umno “truly represents the interests of the Malays” was only intended as a comparison among parties within the unity coalition, said an analyst.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Khalid’s statement referred to Umno’s ability to represent the conservative rural Malays, an attribute lacking within the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

“Within the PH-BN edifice, only Umno is the truly Malay party, whose political ideals and programmes are based on Malay nationalism.

“PKR is multi-ethnic, although Malay-led, while Amanah is a progressive Islamist party,” said Fauzi.

Khalid, a fierce critic of Umno prior to the formation of the unity government, even triggered an uproar in the party after he appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Pardons Board to reject former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s application for a royal pardon.

The statement widened the rift between Umno and Amanah, with some claiming that Khalid was calling into question the King’s judgement.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.

Fauzi said with racialism embedded into Malaysian society, racial politics will continue to dominate Malaysia’s political landscape especially given the country’s shifting ethnic composition.

“Khalid is simply alluding to the undeniable fact of Malaysian politics – that Malays are moving demographically to cover 70% of the electorate in years to come.

“To say that in such a situation we can seamlessly progress to move away completely from race-based politics would be unduly idealistic,” said Fauzi.

‘Frame issues differently’

Wong Chin Huat.

Meanwhile, political scientist Wong Chin Huat said Khalid was simply comparing Umno with other Malay-Muslim majority parties like Amanah, PKR and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak.

He said the move away from race-based politics can come about by framing issues otherwise than through a racial lens.

“If a Malay young single mother is suffering from poverty, ethno-religious parties would fight the issue as one of Malays or Muslims.

“However, a youth party may argue it as a generational issue and a feminist party may frame it from a gender perspective,” said Wong.

He added that to break the monopoly of communal politics, Malaysia must switch from a “first-past-the-post” system to a “party list” system, which would give non-sectarian parties more representation.

‘Exaggerated display of solidarity’ 

Oh Ei Sun.

Oh Ei Sun from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs says Khalid’s statement can be attributed to an exaggerated display of solidarity within the unity coalition to counter the rise of Perikatan Nasional.

“Khalid just had a Freudian slip of tongue in his overzealousness to assist in Umno’s campaign, which is important in stemming the onslaught of the green wave,” said Oh.

He said the perception among the Malays is that PH caters only to the urbanised moderate members of their community.

Khalid’s statement would not cause the coalition to lose its existing support, said Oh. - FMT