MCA no-show at KKB polls won’t look good for unity govt, says analyst

 

Barisan Nasional component MCA has said that it will not campaign in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election if a candidate from its coalition is not chosen. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: An analyst has warned that a no-show by MCA on the campaign trail for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election would reflect badly on the unity government, amid conflict over the candidate for the May 11 polls.

Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia said MCA’s absence would not paint a flattering picture of the Barisan Nasional (BN) component’s relationship with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Speaking to FMT, he said MCA was still a partner in the administration despite holding no government post.

“Its presence has nothing to do with the outcome of the election, but in the long run, it will have a bearing on public perception of the overall relationship between PH and MCA,” he said.

Selangor PH chairman Amirudin Shari previously hinted that a candidate from DAP would represent the coalition at the Kuala Kubu Baharu polls.

However, MCA said that it would not campaign in the by-election if a candidate from BN was not chosen.

Yesterday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would meet leaders from the Chinese-based party to discuss its stand.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin meanwhile said that MCA’s absence from the polls would benefit the opposition coalition.

However, analyst Azmi Hassan from Akademi Nusantara said that MCA’s presence or absence would have no bearing on the odds for either PH or PN.

“For me, that’s the real reason they want to sit out the polls – because they know they cannot do much,” he added.

Voter turnout

The by-election for Kuala Kubu Baharu follows the death of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong of DAP on March 21.

The state seat has a mixed electorate comprising 46% Malay, 30% Chinese and 18% Indian voters.

Lau said that PH must work to convince people to cast their ballots, citing the proportion of Malay and Chinese voters.

“If PH can secure the non-Malay votes while PN can win the Malay votes, it will boil down to voter turnout,” he said.

Hisommudin Bakar of think tank Ilham Centre agreed. He said a low turnout of non-Malay voters on polling day could see PN wresting the seat from PH.

He also said there had been an increase in Malay voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu, estimating that the numbers were now “50-50”. - FMT