Negeri Sembilan victory marks BN’s political comeback after 2018 rout

 However, the election results show that Barisan Nasional is likely to depend on Perikatan Nasional for its continued political survival.

Barisan Nasional leaders celebrating after winning the Negeri Sembilan state election in partnership with Perikatan Nasional.

PETALING JAYA:

Barisan Nasional’s victory in the Negeri Sembilan state election marks the coalition’s political comeback after its fall from national power in 2018, although its partnership with the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional could be tested ahead of the next general election, analysts say.

Jayum Jawan of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia said the Negeri Sembilan results sent a strong signal that BN was on the road to recovery after losing its 60-year grip on the federal government in 2018.

Jayum said the two-thirds majority secured in Negeri Sembilan’s state assembly with the aid of PN was more significant than BN’s victory in Johor last month in a state which has traditionally been regarded as Umno’s stronghold.

“The Negeri Sembilan election was essentially about the Malay agenda. It was to determine whether Malay unity was vital to reinstall a Malay-dominated government,” he told FMT.

The BN-PN alliance secured 25 seats in the 36-member state assembly. BN won 18 seats, while PN secured seven.

Jayum said the outcome strengthened BN’s position ahead of the Melaka state election; another victory could increase pressure on the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government to call an early general election.

Syed Arabi Idid of the International Islamic University Malaysia said the BN-PN alliance won because it understood what Malay voters wanted.

“The Malays are looking for a party they can trust to protect them. PH was unable to convince them that it could provide that protection or serve as an alternative to Umno or PAS (which lead BN and PN respectively),” he said.

He said the report by the royal commission of inquiry into Tabung Haji was released “too late”, arguing that it could have been leveraged to win over the Malay electorate.

He also said the outcome of yesterday’s polls should prompt PH chairman and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to reflect on his party’s performance and consider an internal reshuffle.

BN-PN partnership faces GE16 test

Despite BN’s success in the state election, its grip on the state government would be dependent on PN support.

The BN-led state government would lose its majority if PN withdrew its support in the 36-member state assembly. “It means BN has to give in to PN’s demands,” Syed Arabi said.

However, major disagreements were more likely to emerge ahead of the general election at seat negotiations for the northern Malay-majority states.

Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the alliance is unlikely to fracture at any time soon, as BN and PN would avoid public squabbles that could jeopardise the state government.

“In fact, I think this win will strengthen their cooperation as they head into the Melaka state election and GE16 together,” he said.

He said Umno’s recovery had become more credible after voters saw the party rebuilding its machinery and avoiding a contest with PN in every constituency.

“BN’s landslide victory in Johor may have created a domino effect in Negeri Sembilan. Voters may have viewed the Johor result as evidence that BN was regaining momentum nationally,” he said. - FMT