KUALA LUMPUR – The recent surge in assembly seats secured by PAS and Bersatu marks a significant shift in Selangor’s political landscape, as Perikatan Nasional (PN) has gained substantial ground in the country’s most affluent state.
This development stands in stark contrast to the 14th General Election in 2018 (GE14), during which Pakatan Harapan (PH) secured a commanding two-thirds majority in the state.
In the 2018 elections, PH won 51 out of 56 seats, with PKR claiming all 28 seats contested, DAP securing all 14 of its contested seats, and Amanah securing five out of seven seats.
During that time, Bersatu, a PH coalition member, captured an additional four seats out of seven, leaving Barisan Nasional (BN) with only four seats and PAS with a single seat.
However, the political landscape has undergone a significant transformation since then. Bersatu’s departure from PH and its subsequent alliance with PAS has resonated with conservative Malays, enabling them to gather support by addressing pressing issues such as the high cost of living.
Leveraging social media platforms effectively, PN succeeded in conveying its message to its target demographic, resulting in victories in 22 assembly seats previously held by PH in Selangor. These victories also marked a substantial three-fold increase in the number of seats held by PN parties compared to before.
This shift also signifies the first instance in 15 years that PH has lost its two-thirds majority in the state.
Significantly, former PH component party members, including Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali – formerly Selangor Menteri Besar – and his close ally Afif Bahardin, played pivotal roles in this change of fortune.
Azmin, who left PKR to join Bersatu during the ‘Sheraton move,’ emerged victorious in the Hulu Kelang assembly seat, defeating former protégé Juwairiya Zulkifli with a majority of 1,617 votes.
Likewise, Afif Bahardin, who left PKR and swiftly aligned with Bersatu, secured victory in the Taman Medan seat, narrowly surpassing Ahmad Akhir Pawan Chik (PKR) by a margin of 30 votes.
Among the other seats secured by PN are Sabak, Sungai Panjang, Hulu Bernam, Sungai Burong, Permatang, Bukit Melawati, Ijok, Jeram, Kuang, Paya Jaras, Sementa, Selat Kelang, Sungai Kandis, Sijangkang, Morib, Sungai Ramal, Semenyih, Gombak Setia, Batang Kali, and Dengkil.
PN’s expanded influence extends beyond Selangor, as it reached Penang, where PN managed to secure 11 seats this time around, a significant shift from 2018 when they could only secure one seat in the traditional DAP stronghold.
What adds to this remarkable development is that the coalition secured all three seats in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, which had been a stronghold for PKR, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim having served as a long-standing assemblyman there.
Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir, and Penanti all shifted to PN from PKR and Amanah, respectively.
Negri Sembilan also experienced a transformation, with PAS clinching five seats compared to its previous inability to secure any.
This gradual yet persistent expansion of PN’s influence is evident not just in Selangor, but also in states where their presence was historically dispensable, such as Terengganu and Kedah.
This is highlighted by PN’s complete dominance in Terengganu, securing victory in all seats in the state.
Even allegations of cash handouts to party voters during the GE15 campaign have not deterred support for PN in the state.
As the party solidifies its position in these states, PH faces the imperative to regroup and strategise in order to maintain its grip on power in the upcoming general elections, scheduled to take place in five years’ time. – August 14, 2023