Academic: Govt should use Akmal to attract Malay support in KKB polls

 

An academic has urged the coalition government to utilise Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh to attract Malay votes in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election.

Universiti Sains Malaysia political science lecturer Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said Putrajaya no longer needs to only rely on non-Malay support.

This, according to him, is because the racial composition of voters in the state seat is not too far apart from one another.

The KKB state constituency comprises 46 percent Malay voters, followed by Chinese (39 percent), Indians (18 percent), and others (six percent).

“From my observation so far, I see that the unity government led by Pakatan Harapan has accepted the fact that the Malay support will remain behind Perikatan Nasional.

“This is a problem because such an attitude would only encourage more racial polarisation,” Fauzi told Malaysiakini.

The academician also said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should heed Akmal’s “serious potential” to attract Malay votes due to his positioning as a “Malay nationalist hero” in the “Allah” socks issue.

“Not only during the by-election, I believe Akmal’s popularity should be harnessed in the long term in the unity government’s administration,” he added.

Fauzi also proposed that Anwar arrange a meeting between Umno and DAP leaders, including Akmal, to “make peace”. 

PM Anwar Ibrahim

However, he acknowledged that the coalition would also have to find a way to make the non-Malays accept Akmal, should the latter campaign for a DAP candidate in the by-election.

‘Against Harapan’s aspirations’

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia political analyst Mohd Azmir Mohd Nizah opined that if Akmal were to campaign for DAP in KKB, it would affect his reputation as a champion of the Malay cause.

Azmir said Akmal, a Malacca exco member, is often seen as going against the aspirations of the Harapan government as he carries the Umno-Malay narrative.

The KKB seat fell vacant following the passing of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong from cancer on March 21. The Election Commission (EC) fixed May 11 as polling day, while nomination day will be on Apr 27.

Anis Sina, an analyst from independent firm O2, opined that Akmal’s impact on the by-election would depend on the candidate the coalition government fields.

“If the candidate is from Harapan, especially DAP, it would be challenging for Akmal to campaign asking for Malay voters.

“However, if the government fields a Malay candidate, especially from Umno, Akmal’s presence could provide a much-needed boost.”

Mission impossible

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar believed that Umno has the full responsibility of garnering Malay support for the government candidate to make up for the loss of votes to PN.

“Aside from that, it would be mission impossible to convince Malay voters to cast their ballots for a DAP candidate in the by-election,” he told Malaysiakini.

He added that the incompatibility between Harapan and BN parties is apparent, be it at the federal and state levels.

“Umno’s decision to return all 75 village community village council or village head positions to the Selangor government shows that the relationship between Harapan and BN is still not smooth,” he said. - Mkini