Is PH reformist or conservative? Time to decide, says analyst

 PH can no longer straddle both sides, with its hold in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang now looking vulnerable following the Negeri Sembilan state election.

Leaders of Pakatan Harapan must undertake “very serious soul-searching”, says a political analyst. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Pakatan Harapan leaders must make a firm decision on the party’s ideological direction, particularly whether it wants to be reform-centric or conservative, says a political analyst.

Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia said the coalition, which built its brand as a reform-driven entity, can no longer afford to straddle both sides, citing past instances where PH had been accused of pandering to the Malay right.

Oh Ei Sun.

He added that PH’s dismal electoral performance, first in Sabah, then Johor and now Negeri Sembilan, were no flukes.

“Some very serious soul-searching needs to go on. For example, they should try really hard to consolidate their base and not let their supporters slip away,” Oh said.

“They really have to make a choice: whether they’re reformist or conservative,” he told FMT.

Oh said the outcome of the Negeri Sembilan polls, as with the Johor election in July, showed that PH’s conventional supporters were slipping away, either by skipping the election or backing its rivals.

PH could no longer consider any seat safe, including those in its strongholds of Penang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

The PH-led federal government has previously been accused of ditching its progressive origins in hopes of garnering greater Malay support, a segment of the electorate the coalition has consistently struggled to woo.

The Negeri Sembilan polls proved that PH’s struggle continues, as the informal alliance of Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional swept all Malay-majority seats, romping home with a two-thirds majority in the state assembly.

BN-PN also managed to wrest two DAP strongholds, Chennah and Repah, reflecting a decline in non-Malay support for PH.

PH first won Negeri Sembilan in 2018, after capturing 20 of 36 seats and 53% of the popular vote. The coalition maintained its grip on the state when it joined forces with BN in 2023 and they collectively won 31 seats.

Racial polarisation

Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PH must now learn to navigate the ethnic polarisation seen in the Negeri Sembilan polls, which he expects to continue in coming elections.

“On one hand, many non-Malays are not happy with what PH has achieved thus far especially when it comes to reforms, and on the other, many Malays still hold strong anti-DAP sentiments, which is a political baggage for PH in Malay-majority areas,” he said.

Azmil said national racially-charged issues such as unregistered Hindu temples and recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate of Chinese-medium schools had overshadowed the achievements of the state government led by Aminuddin Harun.

For PH, the outcome of the state election was a possible sign of things to come if it does not make substantive changes. “Time seems to be running out for PH,” he said.

PH won 11 seats in the Negeri Sembilan polls as BN secured 18 and PN seven, with PH bigwigs DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and PKR vice-president Aminuddin being booted from the state assembly.

PH election director Amirudin Shari blamed the defeat on the use of racial rhetoric by its rivals during the two weeks of campaigning. - FMT