Ruling coalition needs to improve communication, address economic woes - Nurul Izzah

SHAH ALAM - Former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has called on her party and coalition to improve its communication mechanisms and resolve the people's economic woes in order to respond to the rising support for Pas.

In a post on her Instagram, Nurul said that Pas had succeeded in "piercing the hearts of our young people" and that the Pakatan Harapan-BN alliance needed to be more active in ensuring that the economy improves for the people and that it can inspire and meet the needs of young people and women.

She also said that the campaigning for the recent state elections had taken the government's time away from focusing on its newly launched initiatives, such as the economy planning implementation process, the National Energy Transition Plan, the progressive wage initiative, and the National Industrial Planning.

Nurul added that the government's communication agency also needed to be strengthened so that the initiatives, successes, and noble efforts of the unity government,reach the people directly.

She said that people still seem to be in the "pandemic frame of mind", where voters are still anxious about the economy and cost of living, despite statistics showing a decrease in inflation.

"Don't forget, the battle will come later - so the quest to win hearts and listen to the people continues!" she added.

Nurul's comments came after the PH-BN alliance won 29 seats in the 40-member state assembly of Penang, while the PN coalition won 11 seats.

The results were seen as a setback for PH, which had previously held power in Penang for 10 years.

Nurul's father, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, her mother Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Nurul herself had all represented the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency for a total of nine terms since Anwar was first elected in 1982.

However, the family strong hold on the constituency ended in the 2022 general election when Nurul Izzah was defeated by Pas' Fawwaz Jan.

Nurul Izzah said that she was proud of the hardwork put in by PH-BN candidates in the recent state elections, and that although voter transfer dynamics between both coalitions could be improved, the pact had managed to build a bridge together.

She added that every election result is sure to produce an impact followed by mixed feelings, but that the PH-BN alliance needed to continue its efforts and learn from the latest episode.

"We won in three states and became the opposition (except in the state of Terengganu) in the other two. Clearly, the time interval of a few months, combined with current macroeconomic and psychological factors, was not enough time to erode the existing 'Green Wave' sentiment," she said.