PETALING JAYA: Factionalism in Selangor Umno, weak Barisan Nasional (BN) allies and urbanised voters loyal to Pakatan Rakyat are among the reasons crippling the aim of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s coalition to win back Selangor in the next election, say analysts and politicians.
Despite the prime minister’s tough talk to his Umno party to galvanise its plans to recapture the state, observers believe the country’s wealthiest state will still be with Pakatan in the next general election, which must be called by 2018.
Selangor Umno is filled with warlords who cannot see eye-to-eye and this has severely weakened the Malay party in what was once its fortress, Professor James Chin of Monash University Malaysia said.
At the same time, voters are not gravitating towards Umno’s allies in BN, MCA and Gerakan.
He also said that unlike other states, Selangor is highly urbanised and voters are still firmly behind the Pakatan parties, especially DAP.
Pakatan currently holds 44 seats in the 56-seat assembly, while BN, through its lynchpin, Umno, has 12. PAS and DAP each have 15 seats, while PKR has 13, after former MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim became an Independent representative following his sacking from the multi-racial party.
“It is not possible for Umno or BN to win Selangor in the next general election because the urbanites are firmly behind Pakatan parties like DAP and PKR.
“They might stand a chance only if their partners, MCA and Gerakan, can regain some seats,” said the political analyst.
Embarrassed that BN is the opposition in Selangor, Najib on Saturday directed Selangor Umno to ramp up its efforts to recapture the state.
The Umno president said now is a good time for Selangor Umno and BN to capitalise on Pakatan’s recent problems, which revealed its weaknesses.
“I feel so tired. It is such a big embarrassment when BN is mentioned as the opposition,” he said at the Selangor Umno convention during the weekend.
Independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng said Najib has to look beyond Umno and address the concerns of the urban lower and middle classes if he has any hopes of his coalition regaining a foothold in the state.
These include rising cost of living, reduced fuel subsidies, corruption and the contentious goods and services tax (GST) which Putrajaya will roll out next April.
“Urbanites are affected by the decisions made by the government so he should look into governance. He has to do more than make such speeches,” said Khoo.
Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua said Umno has a next-to-nothing chance of getting back Selangor since it refuses to recognise that the state’s residents want and believe in good governance, democracy and progressive ideals.
He said to recover from its current weak state, the state Umno must drop its single-minded philosophy of ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy.
“The people are able to see through Umno’s race rhetoric, which doesn’t serve the interest of any race but its own leaders and cronies. In short, the rakyat does not want to see another Khir Toyo,” he said in reference to the former MB, Umno’s Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, who was found guilty of corruption.
Selangor PKR deputy chair Zuraida Kamaruddin said Najib is “barking up the wrong tree” if he thinks he can recapture Selangor.
She said the new Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali is making a good impression on the people and addressing their grouses.
“He is making a good impression and I believe Selangor under Pakatan can be stronger. There is no way Umno can recapture the state,” she said. — The Malaysian Insider
This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 4, 2014.