TAN SRI Muhyiddin Yassin’s hint at retiring from politics after the next general elections is a sensible one, a political analyst said amid the “lackluster” performance of the former prime minister’s party in recent state polls.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Azmi Hassan cited Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) standings during the Melaka and Johor elections, which saw PPBM losing out disastrously both times.
The party fielded 15 candidates during the Melaka state elections in 2021 but only won two seats. Meanwhile, during the Johor elections in March, PPBM only won two out of 33 seats.
In what must be a smack to the party’s face, Johor’s state government was previously a PPBM-led one after the 2018 elections. However, it fell after the Sheraton Move in 2020.
“Part of it (PPBM’s poor performance) has to do with Muhyiddin’s leadership,” Azmi told FocusM.
“Even though he did his job and tried his best during his short tenure as prime minister, I think something is not right in terms of the party’s leadership.”
Yesterday (July 30), Free Malaysia Today reported Muhyiddin as saying he will contest in GE15 if party grassroots want him to, but that he is prepared to retire from politics after that.
Muhyiddin, the shortest-serving and arguably one of the most unpopular prime ministers in Malaysian history, said GE15 will likely be the last time he stands as a candidate.
New blood
Azmi said PPBM needs to “rejuvenate” itself by bringing “new blood” to lead the party. This will then raise the “confidence” of party members to rally more public support.
“So I think it’s a good time for PPBM, and even Perikatan Nasional (PN), to rethink their strategy to face the 15th General Elections (GE15), which is very near.”
Azmi also urged Muhyiddin to step down as PN chairman and give others a chance to lead the coalition, as he plans to do for PPBM, of which he is president.
It is not about changing the symbol of PN, he added, but the coalition’s leadership, referring to the apparent attempt to make voters “forget” about PN’s “shortcomings” by changing its logo for GE15.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) senior lecturer Prof Lee Kuok Tiung, however, disagreed, saying Muhyiddin will do the right thing by staying active in the party.
“He has to set an example,” he said. “As party president, he has to lead his team into GE15. Doing so will give party members confidence that they can win.”
He also noted that Muhyiddin said he will retire after GE15, and not before that.
Lee pointed to Muhyiddin’s health problems as well, which is not an open secret. The Pagoh MP is a pancreatic cancer survivor.
Meanwhile, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said Muhyiddin’s role and popularity should not be discounted.
If PPBM wins big in GE15, Muhyiddin could even return as prime minister, he said.
“But all signs point to his party not doing well in the coming GE, so might as well gracefully hint at bowing out afterward,” he said. – July 31, 2022
Main photo credit: NST
