Who will be the ‘Kamala Harris’ of PN?
While analysts agree that the coalition cannot take its solid Malay support for granted, opinions differ on whether Muhyiddin Yassin should step down.
(MalaysiaNow) – Is the popularity of Perikatan Nasional (PN) on the decline? If so, should the coalition put up a replacement like Kamala Harris?
President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race appears to be the best decision by the Democrats so far in recent years, breathing new life into their fight against the return of Donald Trump.
In his place, the party has nominated Vice-President Kamala Harris who has been giving Trump a run for his money.
The development could give pause for thought to political observers in many countries where political fatigue has set in among the masses as the same leaders dominate both the government and the opposition for decades.
In Malaysia, two of the main active political rivals – Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yassin – are 77 years old and will turn 80 in the next elections.
While Anwar has been entrenching himself using the power of incumbency, there is an uneasy and quiet debate among PN supporters about the future of the coalition if no effort is made to challenge the current government with new faces.
The Nenggiri by-election could be a wake-up call for PN not to take for granted the tremendous support it received – and still receives – from a large section of Malays nationwide.
The aftermath of the election also saw Muhyiddin being on the defensive for a speech in which he recalled the now familiar facts surrounding Anwar’s appointment as prime minister after the last general election.
Political analyst Liew Wui Chern said Muhyiddin and PN are somewhat facing a similar dilemma to that faced by the Democrats when their candidate was Biden.
However, he said that while there was a need for a transition, there was no need to rush.
He said there is currently a lack of a better alternative to Muhyiddin, but named some potential candidates.
“Within Bersatu, there are personalities like Azmin Ali and Hamzah Zainudin, and within PAS, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar,” Liew of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman told MalaysiaNow.
Bersatu recently saw some of its main leaders coming together under a so-called unity plan.
The plan would see Muhyiddin remaining as president while his deputy Ahmad Faizal Azumu would make way for Hamzah, the party’s secretary-general who is also leader of the opposition in the Dewan Rakyat.
The plan has also put to rest a much rumoured rift between Hamzah and Azmin, two leaders who have switched from parties they have long been associated with, and with loyal supporters critical to the party.
Nevertheless, James Chin believes that Muhyiddin’s departure would trigger a power struggle in Bersatu.
He said Muhyiddin should have stuck to his earlier plan to step down, adding that “it is now too late as the next general election may be held earlier”.
