KUALA LUMPUR – The charismatic presence of caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, and the loyal voters of Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, were cited as key factors in Perikatan Nasional (PN)’s victorious run in the state elections, say political analysts.
Prof Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee, a political analyst and Universiti Sains Malaysia alumni association president (PAUSM), emphasised the significant role played by Sanusi’s aura and presence in encouraging high voter turnout in Kedah.
The statistics which indicate a higher proportion of elderly voters, he said, highlighted Sanusi’s appeal among the demographic.
“The success of Perikatan Nasional winning big in Kedah can be attributed to Sanusi’s influence and popularity, which motivated a greater number of voters to turn out and support the coalition,” Dr. Rapiee spoke to RTM in a special program in conjunction with the 2023 state elections.
He further iterated that the Pakatan Harapan (PH)- Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance should reconsider their strategies for attracting their supporters to cast their votes in the northern states of Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
“Despite spending millions on campaigns, PH-BN should focus more on trying to attract supporters to vote, as their voter turnout has been poor in these three northern states.
“PH-BN should really work hard to rectify this issue, and I personally believe that most of their supporters in the northern region are still hesitant to support their partnership with the BN coalition, which happens to be PH’s long-time foe.
“The PH-BN coalition should make themselves more appealing and trustworthy to the people so that they can gain their trust and secure victory in GE16,” Dr. Rapiee added.
Meanwhile, Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a sociopolitical analyst at Universiti Malaya, highlighted the voters’ loyalty towards Azmin Ali in Hulu Kelang.
He pointed out that despite leaving the PKR party three years ago, Azmin secured a victory, indicating voters’ gratitude for his dedication and service to the people during his time as a Menteri Besar.
“In Hulu Kelang, voters still possess a certain level of loyalty towards Azmin, a loyalty rooted in their memory of his past commitment and service to the people when he used to be the Menteri Besar between 2014-2018.
“This demonstrates that voters do not solely base their decisions on party affiliations but also consider the candidates’ track records,” Azman explained.
Azman further stressed the need for Bersatu to assert itself as the dominant party within the PN coalition.
He emphasized that the Islamic party, PAS, has consistently won the most seats within the coalition during state and the recently held general elections, highlighting the need for a balance in power dynamics.
“To ensure stability and success within the PN coalition, Bersatu must strengthen its position and increase its representation,” he said, highlighting the importance of promoting healthy dynamics within the coalition.
The state election held in six states saw Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu remain in the fold of PN, with PAS winning a super majority in these states.
Selangor PN chairman Azmin won the Hulu Kelang state seat in the Selangor state election with a majority of 1,617 votes.
The former International Trade and Industry Minister received 25,597 votes to defeat Wanita PKR deputy chief Juwairiya Zulfkifli of PH who obtained 23,980 votes. — August 13, 2023