{
  "id": 718923,
  "title": "Subang still a safe seat for PH despite Wong Chen’s Bersama move, say analysts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/subang-still-a-safe-seat-for-ph-despite-wong-chens-bersama-move-say",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/13/subang-still-a-safe-seat-for-ph-despite-wong-chen-s-bersama-move-say-analysts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Political analysts have downplayed the chances of Bersatu securing the Subang parliamentary seat from Pakatan Harapan (PH), asserting that the seat remains secure for PH despite the former MP Wong Chen's recent defection to Bersatu. Wong Chen, who served as Subang's MP for PKR for 17 years, recently resigned to join Bersatu. He entered Parliament in 2013 as Kelana Jaya's MP and retained the seat in the 2018 and 2022 elections. Wong Chen defended the seat in 2022 with a substantial 115,074-vote majority.\n\nLau Zhe Wei of International Islamic University Malaysia believes that Subang could remain under PH's control as long as the Chinese community maintains its support for the coalition. The community represents 54% of the electorate, with Malays comprising 26.4%, Indians 16.8%, and others 1.6%. According to Lau, PKR can comfortably win the seat as long as the Chinese continue to support PH, even if Wong Chen splits some votes.\n\nPH's potential to win the seat comfortably is further supported by Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, who highlighted that PH has won urban seats in Selangor, such as Subang, Petaling Jaya, and Damansara, by majorities of tens of thousands. He asserts that Wong Chen's electoral strength in Subang might not transfer to Bersatu, as his previous victories came under PH's banner. Similarly, PH's dominance in urban areas with educated voters (T20 and M40) may make it challenging for Bersatu to gain traction in Subang.\n\nAzmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara suggests that Bersatu could have a chance at wresting the seat if Wong Chen is fielded as their candidate, describing him as a well-known politician in both Subang and Kelana Jaya. However, the likelihood of Bersatu winning the seat is contingent on Wong Chen's ability to build a substantial personal profile and establish himself as a prominent figure in the region.",
  "summary": "They say many urban areas, with educated T20 and M40 voters, will find it difficult to embrace a new party like Bersama.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Subang still a safe seat for PH despite Wong Chen’s Bersama move, say analysts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/subang-still-a-safe-seat-for-ph-despite-wong-chens-bersama-move-say-720751",
        "published": "2026-08-13T01:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}