NewzThe Negeri Sembilan election saw the BN-PN alliance win 18 and seven seats respectively, giving the coalition a two-thirds majority to form the state government.PETALING JAYA: An analyst has warned that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) should not become overly comfortable with their landslide victory in the Negeri Sembilan election last Saturday, saying the real test of the alliance will come in the states led by PAS.Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the coalitions’ strong showing in the election was no guarantee that their cooperation would continue smoothly, noting that cracks had already emerged during the campaign period.He referred to the public rebuke by BN leaders of Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor, as well as reactions from BN component parties such as MIC over the latter's remarks.According to Mazlan, the true test of the BN-PN partnership will be in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, which are widely regarded as PAS strongholds.Mazlan Ali.BN holds only two seats in the Kelantan state assembly and has no representation in the other three states."In Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, compromises are easier because these are not PAS strongholds."But will PAS be willing to share seats with BN in its stronghold states, and will BN be satisfied with the number of seats allocated to it?" Mazlan told FMT.He said seat allocations would be a crucial issue, adding that PN should not take its relationship with BN for granted."Neither side can assume that this understanding will definitely continue until the 16th general election."The Negeri Sembilan election saw the BN-PN alliance win 18 and seven seats respectively, giving the coalitions a two-thirds majority to form the state government.BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had hinted that the cooperation could continue for the Melaka state election, which must be held by the end of the year.Syahruddin Awang Ahmad.Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said PN should be prepared for political shifts if BN changes course following negotiations at the federal level.BN is part of the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also chairman of Pakatan Harapan."If BN changes its mind following negotiations between the top leaderships (Anwar and Zahid), it is possible that the kind of cooperation seen in Negeri Sembilan will not continue in the next stat… 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 polarisationAzmil 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 a…
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