PAKATAN Harapan (PH) component parties PKR, DAP and Amanah are practising the “big tent” concept which means that political parties, especially the recently-formed ones, can cooperate with individual PH parties to avoid electoral contests between them with the larger aim of denying votes to Barisan Nasional (BN) or Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Such a move is welcomed as it would free these political parties from the cumbersome involvement in the formal coalition.
Muda, the newly formed party, has embraced the concept of “big tent” by negotiating for seats to face the upcoming Johor state elections in March.
In fact, seat negotiations have been completed between Muda, DAP and Amanah where the two parties have agreed to concede six seats to Muda.
Negotiations with PKR are on-going and whether the party is prepared to part with three seats remains to be seen.
There are some hiccups between Muda and PKR lately, with some PKR leaders expressing their dissatisfaction that Muda’s president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had criticised the Ulu Tiram state assemblyman for neglecting his constituency.
Syed Saddiq had since apologised and had even removed his Facebook remarks on the matter.
Despite the apology, the Facebook remarks have reappeared on social media to warn PKR that Syed Saddiq is nothing but a loose cannon.
It remains to be seen if Muda can generate support for PH as a whole.
It is assumed that the party, given its name as the party of the young, might attract the support of the 18-21 age group which will be allowed to vote for the first time in the Johor state polls.
The Undi18 legislation has brought about an additional of 700,000 new voters to the electoral register in Johor.
With the emergence of Muda, it is expected that the party might be able to lure to its side these additional voters.
However, it cannot be presumed that very presence of young voters would be advantageous to Muda or to component parties in PH.
In fact, the “big tent” concept will be a major test for Muda.
If it succeeds in influencing and getting the support of the group of young voters, it might be political party to be reckoned with in national politics.
Such victory might even empower Muda to be invited to join the PH coalition.
However, if Muda does not make the mark in drawing the young voters, it might be booted out or simply wither away from the “big tent”.
There is high expectation that Muda can deliver the votes of the parties under the big tent concept but such an expectation might not be fair to the party that only obtained its registration through a court order.
But unfortunately, by alluding to itself as the party for the young and energetic, Muda might have unwittingly imposed a huge burden upon itself.
There is not much time left before the elections are held in Johor.
Muda might not have the time to explain to Malaysians what it stands for, apart from what is known from the excerpts of the speeches of party leaders such as Syed Saddiq.
If Muda delivers a huge chunk of votes of the youth group, PH might stand to make a difference in Johorian politics.
Even if state power is difficult to capture by one political coalition, PH might have a say in the formation of a new coalition government in the state.
Time is not on the side of Muda, and therefore it must articulate and convince voters in Johor especially the young ones that voting for PH is voting for change for the well-being of all Malaysians.
As a young party for all Malaysians, Muda must be prepared to go beyond ethnicity and religion which are the rallying points of decadent political parties in the country. – Feb 12, 2022
Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
