THE message conveyed by Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) information chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali carries more significance than the man delivering it. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi should focus on the glaring absence of a unity government in Johor.
Currently, Barisan Nasional (BN) which is led by UMNO governs Johor with 11 EXCO members.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties are expected to support the state government from the outside. In essence, key PH parties such as DAP, PKR and Amanah are neither part of the opposition nor the administration.
Instead of dismissing suggestions from Azmin and others, Onn Hafiz should seriously consider forming a unity government after the Mahkota by-election given UMNO’s candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah is tipped to win.
However, the election won’t be a straightforward victory as Malays are split between BN and PN while non-Malay voters remain aggrieved by the racist remarks made by UMNO’s Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.
Editor’s Note: When Akmal ridiculed the elderly population by talking about sticking logos onto their foreheads, this insult pierced through their hearts. Such is the gravity of his insult towards DAP vice-chairman and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok which non-Malays felt in their ageing parents – a feeling that is not going to go away soon.
Despite UMNO’s efforts to downplay the damage caused by Akmal’s toxic statements, the impact is already felt. BN and UMNO must now offer something more substantial to address this matter such as forming a unity government in Johor.
Onn Hafiz’s immature response
In the meantime, Onn Hafiz’s reaction has been both immature and amateurish. He cannot simply dismiss the ongoing debate about a unity government and hope it disappears.
BN is in a far weaker position nationally than in previous years with both Malays and non-Malays shifting away from the coalition though there are exceptions.
Amanah initially sought to contest the Mahkota by-election but its request was rejected. This highlights UMNO’s near-monopoly on state power in Johor.
At the Federal level, UMNO has been allocated positions that exceed its political strength yet the party remains resistant to the idea of a unity government at the state level.
Even in its weakened state, UMNO continues to act with arrogance and selfishness. At the Federal level, it refuses to share power with its coalition partners such as MCA and MIC. Unfortunately, these parties – instead of parting ways with UMNO – remain tied to it despite losing non-Malay support.
Disillusionment among non-Malays
As it is, DAP which is excluded from the Johor state government now faces an uphill battle to convince Chinese and Indian voters to support UMNO’s candidate in the Mahkota by-election.
It is expected that Chinese voter turnout will be low, much like the Sungai Bakap by-election.
Disillusioned with both the PH-led coalition and BN, Indian voters may either abstain from voting or vote against UMNO’s candidate.
There is a prevailing sentiment among Indian voters in the Mahkota constituency that UMNO should be taught a hard lesson for taking non-Malays for granted.
Although Indian voters make up only around 8% of the electorate, they could play a crucial role in swaying the results.
In this regard, Urimai is actively engaging with Indian voters to persuade them not to support UMNO’s candidate. This voting bloc could potentially turn the tide against BN in the Mahkota by-election. – Sept 20, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Syed Hussien Bin Syed Abdullah/Facebook
