Can Dr M’s fledgling Pejuang really be GE15 ‘kingmaker’? Pundits say Muhyiddin’s move, numbers will be the answer

By admin-s On Nov 24, 2020

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s three-month old political party Parti Pejuang Tanah Air could stand a chance to be the kingmaker in the 15th general election (GE15) even if it has a small number of MPs, but the conditions have to be right, political observers have said.

(MMO) – Some political analysts said it would depend on whether Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin could keep his allies together and whether votes will be heavily split in multicorner fights, but others said Pejuang would not even fare well enough to be a kingmaker in GE15 which must be held by 2023, but can be called earlier.

Oh said Pejuang would benefit if Umno and PAS sent candidates against each other just like in GE14. ― Picture courtesy of Oh Ei Sun

The Umno-PAS factor in GE15

Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, indicated that it would be “certainly possible” for Pejuang to be the kingmaker in GE15, as the backing of every MP counts nowadays when it comes to achieving parliamentary majority to form the ruling government.

“Well nowadays we have a very fragmented political landscape and it would appear that not one single political party or coalition or faction would be able to command even a simple majority.

“So that’s why even Dr Mahathir with his handful of supporters or MPs in his Pejuang party, if it’s a very close call — like no one single coalition would have a majority — indeed they can be the kingmaker,” he told Malay Mail when contacted, highlighting that Pejuang MPs’ support is crucial for either side on the political divide even right now.

When it comes to the actual figure of parliament seats that Pejuang needs to win to be kingmaker in GE15, Oh said it would depend on how close the results are and the parliamentary distribution of seats among various factions.

As for how Dr Mahathir and his three other party founders who are also MPs would fare in GE15, Oh indicated that they could tap on his appeal and would have a better chance if Umno and PAS split up just like in the 14th general election (GE14).