2-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi has unveiled plans to solidify the electoral arrangement between the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance for the upcoming 16th General Election (GE16). This landmark announcement cements a strategic partnership that could provide much-needed stability to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government as it grapples with a multitude of challenges.
Speaking at an Umno division meeting in Maran, Pahang, on June 30, Zahid, who also chairs the BN coalition, made it clear that the two political juggernauts would continue their pact of not competing against each other in their respective strongholds. “The BN and PH partnership and cooperation will continue as long as they (PH) do not contest in constituencies where BN fields its candidate, and we do not contest in their areas,” he declared.
However, the BN chairman appeared to rule out the possibility of a merger between the two alliances, stating unequivocally that his Umno-led coalition would contest the upcoming polls under its own banner. “We have not closed any possibility,” BN secretary-general Zambry Kadir affirmed to The Straits Times on July 1, leaving the door open for potential negotiations and realignments as the election draws nearer.
The caveats surrounding the electoral pact stem from the fluid nature of Malaysia’s political landscape, where sentiment among voters and negotiations over seat allocations could alter the calculus in the lead-up to GE16, which is not due until early 2028.
Political analysts have welcomed the move as a pragmatic decision that affords both alliances the flexibility to navigate the turbulent waters of Malaysian politics. “The current status quo gives Umno, and especially Zahid, a lot of flexibility,” remarked Amir Fareed Rahim, strategic director at political consultancy KRA. “Umno can continue to enjoy the perks of being in power, while continuing to figure out its place in the national political landscape, especially with GE16 still far away. Zahid can choose his own candidates and decide the thrust of the BN campaign, which is crucial, especially on Malay-facing issues.”
Despite Anwar’s multi-coalition government boasting a two-thirds supermajority in Parliament, concerns over its stability persist, fueled largely by its lack of support from Malaysia’s ethnic Malay majority. Independent political analyst Adib Zalkapli underscored the significance of the BN’s decision, noting that “the Umno-led BN has been trying to reverse its decline since 2008 when it first lost its two-thirds control of Parliament, but failed and was eventually forced out of the government a decade later.”
As the opposition Perikatan Nasional alliance, led by Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, continues to gain ground among Malay voters, Anwar has kept the door open for PAS to join his so-called unity government, an invitation that was initially rejected but has since seen renewed discussions, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Amid public discontent over issues such as the removal of diesel subsidies, inter-ethnic tensions, and slow reforms, the Anwar administration faces a delicate balancing act. Zahid’s efforts to assuage concerns among Umno members regarding the Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) role in the coalition highlight the complexities of navigating the diverse interests within the ruling alliance.
