Is PH reformist or conservative? Time to decide, says analyst
PH can no longer straddle both sides, with its hold in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang now looking vulnerable following the Negeri Sembilan state election.
Political analyst Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Centre in Malaysia has urged Pakatan Harapan leaders to undertake "very serious soul-searching" and decide on the party's ideological direction, whether to be reform-centric or conservative. The coalition, which has historically marketed itself as a reform-driven entity, cannot afford to straddle both sides, according to Oh Ei Sun, citing past accusations of pandering to the Malay right.
The analyst further pointed out that PH's recent electoral losses in Sabah, Johor, and now Negeri Sembilan are not isolated incidents but rather indicative of a broader problem. He emphasized the need for PH to consolidate its base and prevent supporters from slipping away. Oh Ei Sun further stated that the party must choose firmly between being reformist or conservative.
The outcome of the Negeri Sembilan polls, along with the Johor election in July, revealed that PH's traditional supporters were abandoning the party, either by skipping the election or supporting rivals. The PH-led federal government has been previously criticized for abandoning its progressive origins to gain Malay support. In the latest Negeri Sembilan election, the ruling alliance of Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional won all Malay-majority seats, securing a two-thirds majority in the state assembly.
The party, which first won Negeri Sembilan in 2018, maintained its presence there after joining forces with BN in 2023, collectively winning 31 seats. Analyst Azmil Tayeb from Universiti Sains Malaysia noted that PH needs to navigate the growing ethnic polarization in the region. He pointed out that while many non-Malays are unhappy with PH's recent achievements, many Malays still harbor anti-DAP sentiments, which poses a significant challenge for the party in Malay-majority areas.
Azmil Tayeb believes that issues such as unregistered Hindu temples and the recognition of Chinese-medium school examination certificates have overshadowed the achievements of PH's state government under Aminuddin Harun. PH secured 11 seats in the Negeri Sembilan polls, with BN winning 18 and PN seven, while notable figures within PH like DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and PKR vice-president Aminuddin lost their seats in the state assembly.
PH election director Amirudin Shari attributed the defeat to the use of racial rhetoric by the party's opponents during the campaign.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
