State elections to impact Umno and DAP - Analyst
KUALA TERENGGANU - The upcoming state elections in six states could have significant implications for two political parties, Umno and DAP, according to a political analyst.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) political analyst Dr Mohd Yusri Ibrahim said field research indicates a possibility of a change in political coalitions following the state elections, which could impact the cooperative relationship among the parties forming the unity government.
He explained that the two parties were expected to face two possibilities, whether they will be gravely affected or it will strengthened the parties.
"The state election this time will be a huge test for BN, especially Umno, for their political survival, where they will have to reconsider their political direction.
"If they get good support (better than the last general election), then the party has recovered and once again gained strong support, perhaps due to their involvement in the unity government (with Pakatan Harapan), so that means they are on the right track and are accepted by loyal voters. So they will stay.
"But if they receive a relatively heavy blow, and are rejected by loyal and Malay Muslim voters, then Umno will probably need to discuss the best strategies for their survival in politics.
"If the outcome is not positive, then perhaps cooperation with PH needs to be reviewed and reconsidered. That is one of the probabilities," he said.
Yusri, who is also a lecturer in the Policy Studies Programme at Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development UMT, said DAP is predicted to face similar situations because this is the first time the party is cooperating directly with Umno, which brings a different political approach compared to DAP.
"If loyal voters signal that they reject DAP due to cooperation with Umno, BN, then DAP will have to reconsider for their survival in the country's political landscape.
"They might make some decisions that, to some extent, will change the situation, conditions and political stability in Malaysia," he said in the online forum of six states election: Initial Hypotheses organised by Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development UMT on Sunday.
Yusri said the predictions were more robust based on the previous history of DAP leaving the Barisan Alternatif coalition in 2004.
Barisan Alternatif was a combination of DAP, PKR, Pas, and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), established to face the 1999 General Election.
"Even though the coalition (Barisan Alternatif) is just a common cause coalition with no symbol or whatever, we have witnessed its history," he said.
Yusri said that although the state election will be held in six states, it was seen as significant and relevant because it could stabilise the federal government.
"The outcome of the state election this time has a great probability of changing the country's political landscape as a whole because any changes in the coalition, in and out of political parties could change the government and it is not against the Anti-Party Hopping Bill," he said.
In response to these predictions, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan expressed confidence that the unity government would not be affected by the state election results.
He stated that the existing government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is stable, backed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The state elections, set to take place in six states, are anticipated to have far-reaching consequences, making them a focal point for political analysis and potential transformations in the country.
