Can DAP attract Malay votes?

SHAH ALAM - Recently, social media has been highlighting the issue of Umno grassroots supporting DAP candidates in the upcoming state elections, and vice versa.

DAP leaders have also urged their grassroot members to strengthen the Unity government by supporting Umno

Various reactions were given by netizens on the matter and some even said that the call by Umno and DAP leaders violates and goes against party policies

However, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the call to support candidates from the coalition of parties in the Unity government is in accordance with party rules.

DAP's national publicity secretary, Teo Nie Ching, said party members need to put political differences aside as the move is important to ensure political stability at both the central and state levels.

At the same time, Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi admitted that it would be difficult to change the view of supporters to accept the presence of DAP as an ally in the Unity Government, but he claimed that it was not impossible to do.

He said, this is because the negative perspective has been drummed into the psyche of party members for 22 years by the previous leadership while ruling the country.

However, Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described the call as awkward as well as against the party policies

The former Umno Deputy President explained that it is up to Umno supporters whether they want to respond to the call or not.

Meanwhile, political analysts expect that only around five or six out of 10 Umno voters will vote for the DAP candidate in the next state elections.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Political Analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the prediction was based on the hostility between Umno and DAP that had been going on for a long time before the two parties became allies under the Unity Government.

Regardless of the predictions made either by analysts, netizens or leaders, the matter can only be proven during the next state elections

If DAP is able to get the grassroots votes of Umno, this will prove that the Unity Government is now on the right track.