Analysts say BN wants to restore its multiracial image by promising MIC a bigger say in government, but the party is unlikely to win enough seats to make it a reality.
For a start, MIC, which represents the community within the coalition, is contesting only two of the 36 seats in this Saturday’s election.
MIC will have to win both seats to secure two places in the state exco, as promised by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. At least one analyst’s view is that mathematically, it is a promise that is difficult, if not impossible, to keep.
Prior to 2018, when BN still held the reins in the Negeri Sembilan government, the MIC had always been allocated only one seat in the exco.
The promise came on the heels of a remark by Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor that Tanah Melayu, the old name for the Malay Peninsula, is the only homeland for Malays.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Awang Azman Pawi said the offer was made to restore BN’s multiracial appeal given non-Malay unease over Sanusi’s remarks.
He said Zahid wants to revive BN’s identity as a coalition founded on a multiracial power-sharing platform.
“This has become more important because its electoral cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Sanusi’s controversial remarks could cause concern among non-Malays,” Awang Azman told FMT.
He noted that BN has been at pains to stress that its cooperation with PN in the state election would not alter its principles of moderation and multiracial power-sharing.
Awang Azman said the offer also partly reflected BN’s recognition that Chinese voters would be harder to draw away from Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP in the short term.
“Indian support is seen as more fluid and more responsive to local candidates. (We can expect the same response on) issues involving employment, education, temples, housing and access to government,” he said.
“In close contests, a shift of several percentage points among Indian voters could swing the outcome (in BN’s favour).”
Awang Azman said the offer was also meant to show that MIC would be more than a token partner.
“Zahid’s main message is that MIC is not merely a complement or decoration in BN, but will be given a genuine place in government,” he added.
Big promise, small risk
But Lau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia said the electoral arithmetic made the offer easy to announce.
Even in the best-case scenario, MIC might win only Sri Tanjung, giving it just one assemblyman eligible for appointment to the executive council, he told FMT.
MIC is contesting in Sri Tanjung and Seremban Jaya.
In the 2023 state polls, both seats were won by PH. G Rajasekaran secured Sri Tanjung with a 3,996-vote majority, while P Gunasekaren beat his closest rival by 10,507 votes to win Seremban Jaya.
There is no provision in Negeri Sembilan for the appointment of unelected assemblymen, so executive councillors must be picked from among elected representatives.
“The promise is easy to make. In reality, there is little risk of having to fulfil it because MIC is unlikely to win two seats,” Lau added.
A pledge that matters
For Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Sivamurugan Pandian the pledge is significant nonetheless in a small state like Negeri Sembilan, given that it promises administrative influence rather than mere representation.
“It signals that BN wants to strengthen minority representation and demonstrate that Indians will have a meaningful role in government rather than merely electoral representation,” he told FMT.
He said the move also reinforced MIC’s relevance and revived the power-sharing formula on which BN built its multiracial identity, but he said the two exco offer alone would not guarantee a swing in Indian support for BN.
“The offer may improve BN’s standing but electoral momentum will also depend on turnout,” Sivamurugan added. - FMT
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