EVEN if it is possible for Perikatan Nasional (PN) to win five out of the six state in the upcoming state elections, how will such win pose a threat to the stability of the Federal government?
PN leaders are going around saying that if the coalition does well or win five out of the six states – Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan and Selangor – such a win is enough to shake up the federal government.
Even if PN wins all the states including the impossible Penang, there is no way that the victory of the PN will affect the stability or the continuity of the federal government.
The federal government might be shaken up but the fall might not happen. In fact, for PN to win five seats seems to be tall order, especially Negri Sembilan and Selangor.
PN seems to be delusional, thinking that it can win Penang. The idea of winning Penang was mooted to give some semblance of dignity to Gerakan.
Gerakan that cannot stand up to the religious and racial rants of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang against the non-Malays is currently at the lowest ebb in the political history of the country.
For Gerakan to win over the non-Malays in Penang is an unimaginable task that could not be translated into reality.
While simple arithmetic might not be in favour of PN in destabilising the unity government, there is belief in the leadership ranks that they could rely on the “green wave” phenomenon.
The “green wave” phenomenon that was unleashed in the days before the last general election gave the coalition an unprecedented edge against Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN). However, much water has passed under the bridge since the days of the last general election.
The corruption charges against some PN leaders including its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have raised questions about whether or not the coalition is really free from corruption and other financial misdeeds.
The earlier attacks against UMNO leaders for corruption might have dissipated to some extent. Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might not have been in office for long – just a matter of months – but he has done well.
The political stability of the unity government has given him the time and space to ensure the government functions effectively.
The naysayers in PN might have a different thing to say – something expected out of the opposition – but they have no blueprint to turn Malaysia around.
Just more than a year in power earlier had revealed that PN is all about race and religious rhetoric.
Beyond this, the PN coalition has nothing to offer Malaysians by way of economic growth, attraction of investments, employment, the transition to the development of a talented workforce and others.
So, what is this about PN winning five states in the coming state elections? PN leaders themselves are fully aware to the extent that they can pursue their race and religious arguments to merely win elections to gain power.
But they are fully aware that administrating the country requires more than extremism in race and religion. It requires administrative, scientific, economic and strategic talents to take the country and its people to another level.
The green wave is just a momentary bubble with no perennial presence across time and space.
PN under the weight of corruption and other shady financial deals that have been exposed might not be able to prevent the green wave bubble from bursting.
PN might have the mobilising power predicated on the notion of racial and religious exclusivity but it has a poor and pathetic road map to govern the country on the basis of inclusivity. – June 21, 2023
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the DAP state assemblyman 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.