GE15: BN will fall hard, Syed Hamid Albar predicts

SHAH ALAM - Veteran politician Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar predicts that BN will lose in the 15th General Election (GE15) and the reason for their fall will be their failure to reform their constituent parties according to the current political landscape.

“Umno refuses to reinvent its image and they are still in dreamland. And that includes the MCA and MIC style of politics that is very old,” he said, as reported by The Vibes.

He said voters have deemed BN’s same modus operandi for communication strategy unattractive and their limited resources only added insult to the injury.

He said this according to his observation and intelligence gathering on the ground.

“BN didn’t realise that they are outdated, still unable to shake its traditional way and the worst part of is, there is no single clear direction about its future.

“I was told that the party workers didn’t get the payment they were promised, the campaign machinery was not running smoothly.

“BN activity is seen in some pockets of areas and not throughout this time. You can see it on the ground and you can ask from their party workers and supporters and all the grassroots,” he said. He also criticised BN’s capability to place the right candidate in certain areas, describing their insistence to stick to their old image as callous to the emotion and feelings of the people.

He said the candidates are the wrong fit for their area of constituency.

“If you look at the candidates in Perlis, for example, there are still old hands not challenging the status quo of Umno and they are still contesting even though they are not suitable for that seat.

“In Gerik, for example, you don’t sort out local feelings, their vibes and you just put in a candidate who has not been accepted by the local leaders,” he said, referring to BN candidate and Umno Youth chief Datuk Ashraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Syed Hamid, however, approved caretaker Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin who he said projected a refreshing and reformed image to the urban population.

He said Khairy may require find a new platform should BN lose this year's general election.

“Khairy understands the message from the liberal Malays and urban voters who always highlight governance and corruption and these are the groups that are coming up more among the Malays.

“It is clear that Khairy has disassociated himself from Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, looks like nobody in Umno trusts him and Umno old guards too don’t like him except the liberal Malays.

“People will remember him (Khairy) and he has to find a new avenue if he wants to continue his political career,” he said.

He said there are two options for Khairy if BN loses and he wins the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat - to quit Umno or to stay on and fight his way.

“Khairy is considered as arrogant in Umno because he hasn’t shown humility and at times, he wants to show that he is the best-dressed person, he is a good model and a good actor.”

He predicted that the Chinese voting turnout is going to be very high, around 80 per cent and it is highly unlikely for BN to win the seat due to their lack of resources.

He also mentioned that PH would look to Sabah and Sarawak to form a new government in order to get enough seats.

“Sabah and Sarawak's political blocs are the kingmakers. It is likely that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will lead Putrajaya provided that PH approaches Sabah or Sarawak to form a new government.” “They have to work with Sabah and Sarawak since they have 56 seats and if they can get 30 seats, that will be enough.” “And they already made a public announcement that they cannot work with BN or PN to form a new government,” he said.

In addition, Syed Hamid said Anwar Ibrahim is not well-received by middle-ground voters and DAP is gaining traction among the Malays especially in the urban and semi-urban areas.

“So if DAP can get the people in the middle ground to support them, they will be the party of the future.

“Lately, we even have retired senior government officers now who are willing to speak on behalf of DAP and correct the misinformation about DAP, for example, on the rumour that PH would remove pensions.

“Many people didn’t realise that the subject of pension cannot be touched since it is already part of the federal constitution that you cannot do away with pension,” he added.