Former Klang MP Charles Santiago has warned that Pakatan Harapan risks bleeding more votes if it continues to mishandle the cost of living, institutional reforms, and issues affecting the Indian community.
Pointing to the Negeri Sembilan election results, the DAP politician said Harapan must act swiftly as its window to regain voter support before the next general election narrows.
“Harapan has held Negeri Sembilan since 2018. Yet, this election saw turnout rise from 68.4 percent in 2023 to 72.6 percent, with voters coming out in greater numbers and delivering a clear message by backing BN/Perikatan Nasional.
“The message is simple: people are struggling, and they are angry,” said Charles in a statement today.
Last Saturday, the Negeri Sembilan polls ended with a decisive victory for the BN-PN pact, which won 25 of the 36 seats by consolidating Malay votes to secure a more than two-thirds majority.
BN also scored major victories over Harapan in Linggi and Chennah, defeating former menteri besar Aminuddin Harun and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
The result came after BN secured a supermajority of 48 out of 56 seats in last month’s Johor polls, raising speculation that the coalition could pressure Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to call a snap general election.
Multiple grievances fuel discontent
Charles said Harapan may point to its macroeconomic achievements, but voters would ask why those gains had yet to translate into fuller bank accounts.
“Sara (Rahmah Basic Contribution) assistance may provide temporary relief, but it cannot compensate for an economy that fails to provide decent, sustainable incomes. Healthcare costs add another burden.
“These concerns were raised repeatedly during our engagements with NGOs in Negeri Sembilan,” he added.
The same applied to gig workers, Charles said, arguing that the Gig Workers Act 2025 treats them as independent contractors rather than employees and does not adequately hold employers accountable for social protection contributions.
He also said Indian voters had sent a “clear message” rejecting Anwar and Harapan following a series of missteps involving temples, the prime minister’s response to an Indian student, and a broader perception that the community had been taken for granted.
“BN-PN, meanwhile, successfully mobilised Malay voters around the politics of Malay unity, with DAP positioned as the bogeyman, and ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) presented as the answer to Malay grievances.
“Harapan cannot counter this politics by simply assuming that voters will remain loyal,” he commented.
More worrying, Charles said, was what he described as Harapan’s loss of its reform compass, citing its handling of scandals involving former MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki and broader corruption concerns.
He said the growth of “corporate and labour cartels” had also eroded the trust of middle-class voters and Harapan’s traditional support base.
“The reformasi promise that brought people to the streets and to the ballot box is increasingly being replaced by political expediency.
“Anwar and Harapan must understand this: voters are not stupid, and they are not loyal forever. Harapan should remember how it came to power, and why it could just as easily lose it,” he added.
Road to GE16
According to Malaysiakini’s analysis of the Negeri Sembilan results, growing disenchantment among Harapan voters, coupled with the continuation of the BN-PN partnership, could see Harapan losing significant ground at the parliamentary level and in states including Malacca, Perak, Kedah, Pahang and even Penang.
Yesterday, PKR’s Hassan Abdul Karim cautioned against rushing into the 16th general election, which must be held by February 2028.
The Pasir Gudang MP warned that PKR could be “shocked to death” by defeat if an early election is called, potentially deepening the impact of consecutive losses in Sabah, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan.
He said that holding GE16 12 to 18 months from now would instead give voter fatigue time to ease and allow the opposition’s momentum to weaken.
‘It’s about trust’
In a separate statement today, Kota Kemuning assemblyperson Preakas Sampunathan said Harapan has failed to combat misinformation and identity-based narratives in a timely manner.
While the coalition has succeeded in establishing political stability and economic progress, the DAP lawmaker said Harapan has not adequately communicated its achievements or defended itself against attacks.
"Good governance alone is not sufficient if people do not understand or believe what the government is doing.
"Politics is ultimately about trust, and trust requires continuous engagement," he said.
He highlighted the Negeri Sembilan results as "feedback" from voters, stressing the need for Harapan to engage confidently with Malay communities.
However, in doing this, Harapan must not abandon its commitment to multiracial politics, he said, adding that this would only undermine the coalition by enforcing the narratives it needs to overcome.
Additionally, he urged Harapan to continue implementing its promised institutional reforms towards an independent judiciary, stronger enforcement institutions, transparent public procurement procedures, and parliamentary accountability.
"Allegations involving corporate fraud, abuse of public funds, and what many Malaysians describe as 'corporate mafia' activities should be investigated thoroughly and impartially by the relevant enforcement agencies," he said. - Mkini
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