Wan Saiful: Sweeping victory of conservative in PAS, Pakatan Rakyat has no future

Sin Chew Daily, 9 June 2015

(Kuala Lumpur, 8 June) With sweeping victory of conservatives in PAS, Pakatan Rakyat has no future, says Wan Saiful, chief executive officer of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).

“I hope the three parties under Pakatan Rakyat can continue to collaborate. But this will be extremely difficult. The party election shows such outcome. DAP has to shoulder responsibility. They have attacked PAS president.

At the Malaysian General Election 2013 event, he said he once joined PAS and also observed the direction of the party. Judging from the party election last week, the pre-determined menu campaign used by candidates is the worst campaigning in the history of party election.

“I am of the view that PAS, led by Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, a leader who does not care about the spat among members, is a leader who only eyes on realising his own objective no matter what.”

Ibrahim: Split in Pakatan Rakyat will see several corner fights. Barisan Nasional will win in next General Elections

Merdeka Research Centre programme director Ibrahim Suffian said as announcement made by PAS to cut ties with DAP may cause Pakatan Rakyat to split, Barisan Nasional is likely to win in next general elections as more corner fights are anticipated.

He said this at an event of Malaysia General Election 2013 after delivering his speech on 13th General Election: Parliamentary seats, race, youth and voting pattern analysis” during a question and answer session. He said split in Pakatan Rakyat may see the appearance of Kadazan type of contest where Malay votes may split among Umno, PAS, PKR and other political parties, forming a one-on-on straight fight.

Barisan Nasional enjoys an edge in multiple corner fights and would win in less than 50% of votes.

He explains that elections in Sabah often involve three corner fights or more than that as Sabah has many political parties which do not form alliance to contest in election.

As former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir lambasted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib that if he were to continue as Umno president, Barisan Nasional would suffer humiliating defeat in coming General Elections, Suffian is of the view that Dr Mahathir is 60% correct. However after PAS announces cutting ties with DAP, the statement is incorrect now.

He also touched on Chinese tsunami in last General Elections where majority of Chinese voters are unhappy with Barisan Nasional’s performance in economic and other issues. They are of the view that the economic policy implemented by the Barisan Nasional government has not been able to reach its objective and unable to solve bribery and crime.

He said apart from Chinese, Indians are also losing confidence on Barisan Nasional leadership as the government is unfair in its policy for minority. Indians are unhappy in living costs and Tamil school issues.

Ong Kian Ming: Post Barisan Nasional Alliance may be formed

Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming points out that he does not deny that the situation now may see the formation of new coalition front – “post Barisan Nasional post Pakatan Rakyat” as raised by DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

He said announcement by PAS may change current political model. This may also be another “post Barisan Nasional” alliance in next general election causing Barisan to lose.

“I think anything is possible. Anything can happen before 14th General Elections and possible to happen. Announcement by PAS now can alter the political fundamental in Malaysia. It may be forming a post Barisan Nasional alliance.”

As more scandals involving the Barisan Nasional government are exposed such as the 1MDB controversy, this would be the key factor affecting Barisan Nasional’s performance in next General Election.

Universiti Tun Abdul Razak: Rise of social media helps in people friendly policy but not winning votes

Universiti Tun Abdul Razak president cum vice chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr. Md. Zabid Hj. Abdul Rashid points out that despite the Barisan Nasional government has implemented many projects that benefit people in the last two general elections, the projects did not help Barisan Nasional in winning more seats and votes. This is because current society has advanced into information technology and rise of social media where people obtain positive and negative information easily.

He said Barisan Nasional obtained 98.1% of support from people in general elections held in 1955. It was reduced to 71.2% in 1959 and 65.9% in 1969. The percentage increased in 1990 and 1999. However in 2008 and 2013, it faced political tsunami as Pakatan Rakyat was formed.

At the opening ceremony of Malaysia 2013 General Elections event today, he said from 1955 to 2013, performance of opposition parties was inconsistent. For example, in 1959 the opposition received 48.3% of votes. In 1969 it received 50.7%. In 1990 it was dropped to 46.6%. In 2013 it received the support of more than half of voters (53.3%)

He explained that despite the Barisan Nasional implemented several people friendly policies before general elections, voters received information easily due to advancement of internet. They are also sceptical on policies released by Barisan Nasional and those negative issues.

All political parties need to adjust

“All political parties need to carry out adjustment in order to fulfil the basic requirement of current scenario.

He said election would be hard to predict. Hence political parties are to be bold in changing their styles to fulfil current political environment.

He also stressed that errors would occur in many untested cases in election process and there is no short cut in election.

He hopes such event would be able to review the poll result of last election in terms of election strategy, fairness in election and the racial trend in Sabah and Sarawak. This offers a platform for scholars in various sectors and those involved in politics for discussion.

Rohana slammed a party in Pakatan Rakyat for “bringing religion into politics and game over in elections.”

Without naming the party, Prof Rohana from defence and management faculty of Defence University said by dragging Allah into politics, it would be game over in next General Elections.

“DAP and its allies want to topple Barisan Nasional and have since created this political marriage. The mission has yet to complete but one party has deviated from the objective. Such act lacks integrity.

“This party reflects arrogance and claims to establish Islamic State, implement hudud law and shows to allies that I am right. Such act is wrong.”

“This shows the political party does not care about political reality and extend its head to “heaven”.”

“However, as far as I know, only about 50% of Muslims support hudud law proposed by the party. Many are still observing without making a stand.

“I want to advise this party that politics is not religion. Politics talk about serving people. In future political request in our country should be transcending race. The best system would be a two-party system.”

Original Source: 旺賽夫：伊黨保守派大勝‧“民聯已沒有未來”