Pilihan ‘khemah besar’ PH terhad, kata penganalisis

Analysts have expressed concern over the scope of Pakatan Harapan's (PH) 'big tent' strategy, which focuses on expanding the party's appeal, particularly among Malay voters, who find it challenging to replicate the support of the Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance. Azmi Hassan, from Nusantara Academy, noted that PH recognizes its reliance on Umno, given its ability to attract Malay voters, which is currently a significant hurdle for PH.

He suggested that Umno's capacity to attract Malay votes, a task proving difficult for PH, could be seen as an invitation for the coalition to consider other options. However, the alternatives presented are limited, with Bersatu, a potential partner, unable to match the strength of Umno and BN. The performance of Bersatu in states like Johor and Negeri Sembilan highlights the party's limited influence in garnering Malay voter support.

Faiz, before this, had proposed that PH should broaden its 'big tent' concept by seeking new political partners if changes occur in the political relationship between Umno and PN. Both PH and BN, along with several other parties, are set to form a subsequent government following the 2015 general election, while PN serves as the opposition.

Despite this, BN's departure from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) in July 2021, in favor of partnering with PN in Negeri Sembilan, has sparked concerns about PH's ability to secure additional Malay support. Analysts like Syaza Shukri and Mazlan Ali argue that expanding PH's alliances with smaller parties like Muda and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) may not be sufficient to make PH more competitive.

However, they also emphasize that PH should not solely rely on Umno and could consider collaborations with Bersatu, Putra, or Berjasa. Such collaborations, they contend, should not undermine PH's identity, as this type of partnership had previously existed with Bersatu during the 2014 general election, leading to the formation of a coalitional government in 2018.