Umno won’t win all six Bersatu seats at by-elections, say analysts
Azmi Hassan said the unity government may snatch Bukit Gantang if incumbent Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal runs under its banner.
(FMT) – Analysts have discounted the possibility of Umno sweeping up all six parliamentary seats should Bersatu force its rebel MPs who currently support the unity government to vacate them.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the unity government is likely only to snatch one of the seats from the opposition bloc.
“Those six seats are Barisan Nasional’s traditional seats. However, they lost in the last election due to the ‘green wave’. Bersatu will get a huge backing from PAS supporters in those areas,” he told FMT.
The seats – Kuala Kangsar, Gua Musang, Labuan, Jeli, Bukit Gantang and Tanjong Karang – were all contested by Umno candidates in previous general elections.
Azmi said the unity government may snatch Bukit Gantang if it fields incumbent Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal under its banner.
“There is no doubt he won previously with support from PAS supporters, but at the same time he still has very strong local support.
“If the unity government places him as the candidate then there is a possibility he can win, but the other five seats (will be) very tough,” he said.
Azmi said Umno would have to rely on Pakatan Harapan supporters to secure the remaining five seats.
“There is always a sense of caution among PH supporters when it comes to supporting an Umno candidate.
Azmi said to win, PH supporters must take a leaf out of the book of their counterparts in PAS and vote in favour of its coalition’s candidate no matter which party they come from.
On Sunday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party’s candidates will contest the six potential by-elections as the seats have always been held by Umno.
Meanwhile Mazlan Ali from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Umno may win two of the six seats – Labuan and Kuala Kangsar – “as it is far away from the ‘green wave’ influence”.
“With PH‘s help, Umno has a chance of winning these two seats,” he said
He said the support for the unity government and the opposition is more balanced in Bukit Gantang and Tanjung Karang.
“BN has a good track record in these areas, but recently, Perikatan Nasional’s influence has been quite noticeable, especially in traditional Malay villages.
However, Mazlan said Jeli and Gua Musang may prove too tough as these are areas within the state of Kelantan that are predominantly under the influence of PAS.
On Saturday, Bersatu held an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and approved an amendment to the party constitution, which would allow it to invalidate the membership of an MP or assemblyman who shows support for any other party or policy that is not aligned with Bersatu’s position.
