Budget goodies no guarantee of votes for PH, say analysts
The cost of living, performance of the economy, and public perceptions of the government are expected to matter more to voters ahead of the next general election.
Analysts suggest that the financial assistance and other benefits included in the 2027 federal budget might boost public sentiment towards Pakatan Harapan, but this may not convert into votes during the upcoming general election. Awang Azman Pawi, an analyst from Universiti Malaya, notes that public opinion can change based on factors like the cost of living, economic performance, leadership integrity, and political developments.
He points out that while Barisan Nasional offered similar initiatives like BR1M cash aid and Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia groceries, these did not guarantee support and, in fact, led to the party losing power in the 2018 general election.
Tawfik Yaakub, another analyst from Universiti Malaya, believes that the 2027 budget's measures could provide relief to those facing cost-of-living pressures, particularly the B40 low-income group, civil servants, government pensioners, young voters, and families with school-going children. However, he warns that the effect might be temporary if the cost of living continues to rise.
He expects those who receive the benefits to show more positive support for the party, while critical voters might perceive the measures as a political strategy ahead of the 2028 general election. Ultimately, the success of these initiatives will depend on the transparency of their implementation and the extent to which people feel the benefits, according to Tawfik.
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.
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- Budget goodies no guarantee of votes for PH, say analysts freemalaysiatoday.com
