Green Wave may be greener with voters expected to boycott PH-BN in state polls?

By Mihar Dias, Newswave

Predictions are high that the “Green Wave” phenomenon may sweep larger numbers of Perikatan Nasional (PN)-PAS ADUN into state assemblies that will be holding their elections in early 2023.

Unless a miracle happened, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah will remain as PN-PAS coalition strongholds in the forthcoming state polls. Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan are likely to be inundated by a significant number of Green Wave ADUN as well.

While Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) partnership may appear formidable on paper in the above three states, but it is clear what happened in Padang Serai shows that reality on the ground is quite different. Chances of boycott against PH-BN coalition in coming state elections are likely to happen as it did in Johor early in 2022.

“Taking the Johor state election as a case study, PH was clearly boycotted by its supporters when the coalition only garnered 20.48% of the popular votes, coming in third place behind BN (43.11%) and PN (24.04%),” says political analyst Ahmad Fahmi Mokhtar in PAS’ mouthpiece Harakah Daily.

“In the next six state elections, the latent voice of boycott is likely to emerge at the ballot boxes, repeating what happened to PH in the Johor state election (this year),” he added.

Ahmad Fahmi is quoted saying that BN’s act of merging with PH-DAP is seen as “turning its back on the wishes and principles of UMNO’s grassroots struggle”, and is probably the main factor that will drive their supporters into the arms of PN-PAS in forthcoming state elections.

He also said that besides the trend where UMNO supporters leaving the party is on the rise, it is worsened by the superficiality that comes from PH ministers themselves, “For example, (Economic Affairs Minister) Rafizi was looked up to previously but once he became a minister, he was not only looked down upon but was totally ignored.”

These and other factors will eventually result in deterioration of support for PH-BN in GE16. Meanwhile, the boycott against PH-BN looms on the horizon with more Green Wave ADUN – a certainty in most state assemblies in the near future.