PETALING JAYA, Aug 8 — When Malaysia woke up to a hung Parliament after the 15th general election (GE15) last year, the dread of continued political instability in the country returned.
Against expectations, however, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) — which won the most seats, but not a simple majority — cobbled up a coalition comprising its once biggest political rivals, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), to form what became the national unity government.
While the politicians took easily to their former rivals, the about-face has been harder for the members as well as supporters of the parties, which could be a concern for the six state elections taking place next week.
“I would say they (our supporters) are quite pragmatic and accepting of those who have concerns (over the PH-BN alliance),” Kampung Tunku incumbent Lim Yi Wei told Malay Mail recently.
“I think we try to reassure them at this current moment that it is acceptable at this point in time that the combination of PH and BN coalition as well as GPS is the best choice (moving forward) because I think there are pros to it, since it kind of motivates both sides to come to the middle.”
Lim, who is from DAP, also said Malaysians were also mindful of an “insincere” Opposition that is seemingly trying multiple approaches, with the hope that some of them will be successful, including attempts to sow division and strife with the goal of changing the federal government.
“So, that’s why the unity government is the best option right in bringing politics back to the middle where it’s more moderate and neutralises an Opposition that wants to bring about political instability,” she said, adding that her election campaign and office have worked hard to convey this since last year.
For Subang Jaya incumbent Michelle Ng Mei Sze, the first-term lawmaker explained that public sentiments remained unchanged despite her party’s sudden association with BN.
DAP has often been painted as the proverbial bogeyman by its political rivals, including the newly-allied Umno, with the party often being accused of being anti-Islam and anti-Malay.
Ng then recalled a meeting with her constituents in USJ a day after GE15 where she had explicitly asked them for their views when Malaysia grappled with having no clear winner from the general election.
“They said, ‘look, you don’t have a choice and no one has the majority and we cannot expect ideals. Of course, if you have a majority we will be very happy but what choice do you have now?’
“By elimination, Perikatan Nasional is not an option because ideologically we are too different. Your next bet is Umno, if you can strike a deal on certain principles that you can work on and focus on commonalities, at least you stop the rot in the country and you get some progress going.
“Of course, it is not ideal but something they can live with,” she told Malay Mail after a walkabout in SS17.
Bukit Gasing incumbent Rajiv Rishyakaran expressed similar views, saying that most PH supporters gradually came to understand and accept the reality of having to be in a coalition with BN.
“Most, but not all. You will never get all, but quite a lot.
“In this area I do not get flak for it. So, when I go on my walkabouts every day, I get lots of comments, but they do not bring this up. They understand, I think.
“We do not prefer this but we have to accept that there was a hung parliament,” the two-term assemblyman told Malay Mail after a meeting with constituents recently.
The state elections for six states, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, is on August 12.
