Sungai Ramal, will continue to be PH's stronghold
SHAH ALAM - Sungai Ramal is one of the strongholds of Pakatan Harapan (PH), and fielding caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari there will increase PH's chance to retain the seat, say experts.
Political expert Mujibu Abd Muis said Amirudin is doing remarkably well.
"When he won the 15th general election (GE15) against former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, it was a general statement of his approval as MB, and Sungai Ramal is one of the strongholds of PH.
"Besides, fielding Amirudin will increase PH's chances to retain the seat, and since it was won by Amanah, the strategy to wrestle them by Perikatan Nasional (PN) is definitely via Pas since Sungai Ramal is a Malay-middle-class educated community," he said.
The Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) political science senior lecturer also said PH would have a future in Sungai Ramal, but it depends on the decision on Aug 12 whether the voters want PH to retain the seat or make drastic changes by voting for PN.
"Since areas like Sungai Ramal are sub-urban, issues of development are not that much of an issue compared to municipalities.
"If Amiruddin retains as MB, and it would be a second term for him, he is expected to provide more time to execute his plan in the previous term. So yes, there will be more," he said.
On whether PN can take over Sungai Ramal, he said it would be a tough fight, but PH stands a better chance with BN now with them, and a two-corner fight will make it harder for PN to turn the result.
Commenting further, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Political Science Professor Datuk Dr Jayum Anak Jawan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the PH coalition of PKR and DAP will be able to retain Penang and Selangor.
"In Penang, PKR and Amanah need only to deliver the small margin needed to retain Penang under DAP’s chief ministership.
"However, any loss of strength through PKR and Amanah will dent the spirit of PKR and Amanah, and more so in their relations with DAP," he said.
Meanwhile, he added that in Negeri Sembilan, BN-Umno and the PH coalition can be expected to retain Negeri Sembilan.
"When PH and BN-Umno came together, Umno’s strength was fortified to the extent that they almost dominated the state assembly.
"In the event of the tide going against Umno, it is reasonable to expect that they would still win, but with a reduced number of seats, that may still give Umno the edge to come back to administer the state.
"Even if PH retains Penang and Negeri Sembilan with reduced seats, that is a bad signal that support is already eroding for the two main blocks of the Peninsular Malay party," he said.
He added this would lead to a troubled Unity government, but should they lose both Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, which can be expected, the unity government will collapse after the state elections.
"Pressure will be mounting for them to let go or call for an early parliamentary election," he said.
Meanwhile, Institut Kajian Etnik (KITA), Political Sociology, Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said Amiruddin's performance as MB has been well received by voters in Malay majority seats in Selangor.
"Sungai Ramal has 79 per cent Malay voters, and Sungai Ramal assemblyman Mazwan Johar of PH Amanah has performed well.
"However he is now contesting against PN, a much stronger party than before, namely after GE15.
"It shall be a tough fight for Mazwan from Amanah, who carries the same religious platform as PAS, only he belongs to PH, and in Sungai Ramal, it shall be Islam PH versus Islam PN as the latter is stronger," he expressed.
