Illogical for Alor Star Umno grassroots to demand seat from PH for GE16, say analysts

It is surprising for Umno grassroots in Alor Star to demand to contest the parliamentary seat instead of PH in the next general election (GE16) but whether it speaks of the state of PH-BN relations in Kedah is unclear.

(NST) – Last Saturday (July 20), Alor Star Umno division’s 497 delegates passed a resolution demanding BN to contest the seat as well as either the Suka Menanti or Alor Mengkudu state assembly seat.

In the 15th General Election, the seat was wrested from PH by PN’s Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden from Pas.

Geostrategist and Nusantara Strategic Research Academy senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said that, looking at how the PH won more than 25 per cent of votes than the BN in the last election, it is “very illogical” for them to demand the seat, especially with the election being years away.

Beyond such frivolous demands, if it wishes to win at all, BN should instead focus on how to secure the Malay votes in Alor Star.

Historically, the seat has been held by a Chinese representative since 1955, even as Malays make up the majority of the constituency.

Afnan is the first Malay member of parliament representing Alor Star.

“If you add PH and BN’s votes, it is still not enough. It is comparable to what PN gained, but it is still not enough”, Azmi said.

However, whether the partnership could pull itself together to do so is no easy feat as suspicion stands in the way of solidarity.

“I think people in BN are already trying to plan their next move. The relationship with PH has not been fully accepted by their followers, so they need to think of the best move forward”, said International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor Dr Syaza Shukri.

She believes that mistrust between the two coalitions have never truly disappeared and that BN must tackle the issue starting today.

However, the path for aligning grassroots support with national aspirations is rocky as even Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman, and Umno supreme council member, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, has given his blessings toward the resolution.

“Umno has the right to demand the review. In fact, it should be reviewed,” Mahdzir said to reporters on July 20.

Political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie on the other hand sees no fracturing within PH-BN in Kedah, and seems to be of the opinion that this posturing is an effort to resolve said conflict.

“Umno Alor Star is confident of winning the seat in the next general election. The party wants to settle the squabble between any component party which is interested to contest there”, he said.

Syaza is not so optimistic that PH would be amicable to such demands but ultimately, the trajectory of such a negotiation would be based on sentiments on the ground.

On Thursday (July 25), Alor Star PKR Youth chief Tan Jin Hao shot across the bow against the resolution, stating that Kedah BN should do soul-searching in the aftermath of their loss not only in the capital but overall in the state.