Jomo: Malays won’t accept opposition, even if unhappy with BN

(FMT) – Any “profound sense of disgust” Malays may harbour for the current administration will not necessarily translate to support for the opposition, says Jomo Kwame Sundaram.

The prominent economist said the Malay community had never seen such crass, greedy and immoral behaviour as that exhibited by the current regime.

“But at the same time, they won’t embrace the opposition. They are constantly reminded that Lim Kit Siang will be the prime minister,” he said, referring to the DAP supremo.

“There is a great sense of insecurity,” Jomo said at a forum titled “Envisioning the Future: Malaysia Beyond GE14”.

Umno leaders, right-wing Malay NGOs and the Malay media have all repeatedly claimed that Lim was using the Pakatan Harapan (PH) platform to become prime minister.

PH leaders, however, have said the allegation was merely Umno’s ploy to scare the Malays from voting for the opposition.

Jomo said there were also many indicators that the Indians and Chinese have become less antagonistic towards Barisan Nasional (BN).

“More importantly, they are despondent about what the opposition can really offer them.”

Earlier, he expressed concern that the opposition’s “incompetence” would only strengthen the present regime.

Three-cornered fights, he warned, will help the BN secure a two-thirds majority, while the number of seats for PH would decline.

Later, Jomo said voting against Umno did not necessarily mean it would be of any help to the opposition coalition, as it was divided.

“Voters have two choices, either PAS or PH.

“However, the Muslim and Malay credentials of the latter are compromised,” he said.

Malay dissent, therefore, is likely to go to PAS unless PH components and the Islamist party can collaborate like they did in the last general election.

“It’s simple arithmetics, it’s not rocket science.”