Analysts offer reality check for Pakatan Harapan’s dream of seizing Kelantan, Terengganu
(MMO) – Federal opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) is unlikely to sway enough Malay voters away from PAS and Umno to support its ambition of wresting Kelantan and Terengganu in the general election, political observers have said.
They attributed this to PH’s limited appeal among rural voters in these two Malay heartland states and the new pact’s disadvantage against incumbents Umno and PAS in multi-corner fights.
Ibrahim Suffian, who heads independent pollster Merdeka Center, said while PH will likely pack their rallies there, the crowds may not translate in votes needed to lift the pact’s candidates above those from PAS and Umno in the two states.
“There might be a small Malay wave against the establishment, but without a unified opposition there is very little hope for Pakatan to gain from it. The reason is PAS as an older and much more established party in those Malay heartland states have a larger following.
“In a three-cornered contest involving [Barisan Nasional] against PAS and against the Pakatan parties, the only likely victor is BN,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday.
The analysts were responding to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang’s prediction that PH could take control of Kelantan and Terengganu with a 15-per cent swing in Malay votes from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to the opposition pact.
Pacific Research Center’s principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said, however, that Lim’s scenario is “very unlikely, as votes will either go to Umno or PAS”.
