PH mesti laksana reformasi elak kembali jadi pembangkang, kata penganalisis

Analyst Wong Chin Huat warns that Pakatan Harapan (PH) must recognize the factors behind the increasing effectiveness of alternative political identities in order to avoid once again becoming the opposition after the upcoming general election. He notes that the combined strength of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) poses a significant challenge to PH.

Given the current electoral system, which favors incumbent parties, PH must seize the opportunity within the current government to implement reforms that will create a more balanced political competition for all parties. Otherwise, PH risks losing power in the upcoming election, with a slim chance of regaining strength. The results of the 2022 PRU indicate that around 28 out of 71 seats won by PH and the Young Turks are at risk of falling into the hands of BN and PN if the supporters of both coalitions unite.

This is based on the fact that voter turnout among PH supporters remains unchanged, said Wong in an interview with Astro Awani. However, if voter turnout is as low as in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan general elections, the seats that can be retained will be fewer than 43. Wong acknowledges the challenges ahead for PH, but stresses the need to acknowledge the factors behind the increase in political identity-based voter support.

PH is the successor to the Pakatan Rakyat, formed by PKR, DAP, and PAS. After their split from the Islamic party, PKR, DAP, and the conservative PAS party formed PH with Bersatu in 2015. This coalition became the opposition until 2018, when it capitalized on a people's awakening to topple BN, which had held power for nearly 60 years.

However, PH fell apart when Bersatu pursued its own agenda before forming a new government together with several PKR and Umno MPs. PH regained power after the 2022 PRU by forming a coalition with BN and parties from Malaysia East.