'Caught in the wave': How BN-PN's 'Malay unity' push undercut Bersatu, boosted Berjasa in Nilai
'Bersatu needs to revitalise itself or risk more electoral setbacks.'
The 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election showcased a significant shift in the balance of power within the state, as the five-cornered contest for the Nilai parliamentary seat highlighted the consequences of BN and Perikatan Nasional’s unifying push under the BN-PN banner. The electorate in Nilai was comprised of 46 percent Malays, a mere 30 percent Chinese, and 20 percent Indian voters, making the contest a microcosm of the broader ethnic dynamics at play.
Among the candidates, Malay opposition party BN backed MCA’s Alan Lai, who secured the second position with 30.4 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) was represented by J Arul Kumar, who emerged triumphant with 48.8 percent of the vote, retaining the seat for his fourth consecutive term. Despite his strong showing, Kumar’s majority had significantly narrowed since the 2018, 2023, and 2023 elections, when it stood at 47.3 percent, 37.7 percent, and 18.3 percent respectively.
However, the most telling outcome of the Nilai contest was the rise of Berjasa, a coalition comprising Malay and Chinese parties. Berjasa’s candidate, Zamani Ibrahim, won the seat on a platform of Malay unity, securing 35.6 percent of the vote and overtaking BN’s Lai. This shift in momentum for Berjasa, which had previously struggled to gain traction in Nilai, signaled a potential realignment within the state's political landscape.
BN's failure to capitalize on their Malay majority and the diminishing appeal of their unity message left them trailing behind Berjasa, who capitalized on the changing demographics and shifting political sentiment.
Written by urgent.news from Malaysiakini's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
