SHAH ALAM – Amidst the 15th General Election (GE15), it has been revealed that Umno Supreme Working Council member Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim is planning to contest against Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Pagoh, a Parliamentary seat helmed by the latter since 1978 and won eight times.
And although many have questioned his capabilities for a possible win seeing that the Umno-man lost to then-newcomer Muda President Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in GE14 for the Muar seat, a political observer have not ruled it out his chances just yet.
Malaysia Principal Adviser of Pacific Research Center Dr Oh Ei Sun said there was still a chance for Razali to win despite losing as an incumbent in the last polls. He said Razali had one advantage, which was being part of Umno. "Malay voters still prefer Umno of Bersatu regardless of the choice of candidate.
"There is still a chance for him there,” he told Sinar Daily. On another note, Oh said Muhyiddin was still widely perceived as the main instigator of the Sheraton Move, which most non-Malays view as an elector betrayal.
The move, which had caused a string of political and economic instability and further pressed by the Covid-19 pandemic, was still strong in people’s minds and hearts, says Oh.
"The non-Malays are likely less than enthusiastic in coming out to vote for him (Muhyiddin), although they would also not vote for Umno.
"As such he has to almost exclusively fight for the Malay votes which in recent Johor state election mostly favour Umno over Bersatu,” he said.
Oh said the selection of Razali as a candidate will present a major challenge for Muhyiddin to defend the Pagoh seat.
He said there was a sizable non-Malay voter cohort in Pagoh and that they had been instrumental in ushering in the win in 2018 against Umno.
"The electoral threat to Muhyiddin doesn’t come from the particular choice of Umno candidate to fight him. It comes mainly from the demographic deficit of his Pagoh constituency,” he further elaborated.
Sinar had previously reported that the party's leadership had agreed to transfer him to Pagoh from the Muar Parliament which he had won for three terms – GE11, GE12 and GE13.
The reported added that Razali, who was also the Muar Umno Division Chief who had been elected as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister as well as Education Deputy Minister was prepared to bear the challenges.