KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) hope of returning to federal power may hinge on a rather unique factor – the inclusion of celebrities as election candidates – at least, according to one political observer.
Universiti Malaya academic Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi said while PH has proven itself to be inclusive, there is a need for the coalition to look at alternative methods to win support from the ground.
He said local artistes could be a strong pull factor for voters, especially if evidence in other countries is to be of any indication, and that PH only stands to benefit from nominating them in elections.
“In PH, they already have activists, professionals, businessmen and academicians among their ranks. Perhaps, it’s time to expand and include celebrities from the creative industry.
“However, they must be among those who are not a liability. They have to be clean, without scandals, and must be talented and intelligent,” he told The Vibes, without providing any names.
Awang Azman was asked what PH needs to do to improve its chances of winning the next general election, after losing federal power exactly a year ago today.
His statement comes less than a month after actor and director Datuk Afdlin Shauki Aksan told Getaran that he plans to enter the political fray in a bid to carry the people’s voice.
Globally, many popular personalities have found success in politics, most notably celebrity businessman Donald Trump, who became the 45th United States president in January 2017.
Other popular figures include actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was the 38th governor of California; boxer Manny Pacquiao, who was elected as a Philippine congressman in 2010, before becoming a senator in 2016; and, talk-show host Al Franken, who became a Democratic senator for Minnesota in 2009.
In any case, Awang Azman said, PH still has a slight edge over Perikatan Nasional should an election be held today.
“Failure to address issues like the pandemic, loan moratorium, the economy, employment and others has given PH a bit of an advantage. It is not enough for a two-thirds majority, but enough for a simple majority, I would say.”
Mountain to climb for PH, but better late than never
On the contrary, independent political analyst Khoo Kay Peng believes PH needs to do much more to convince voters come elections, slated for later this year.
For one, he said, there is a dire need for the formation of a shadow cabinet, besides convincing the public that any internal friction within the coalition has been resolved and that it is now a truly united front.
“They need to work out any differences among the parties. At the moment, we don’t see them talking or acting as a coalition. On the surface, it may seem okay, but deeper than that, there are still bruises from the collapse last year.
“If these are not sorted out, it will not give the people the impression that this supposed government-in-waiting is stable.”
He said it is not enough for PH to just rely on the squabbling among PN parties and the possibility of “winning the election by default”.
“They have not done much other than complain and whine. They must stop this and do something. It is better to be late than never.” – The Vibes, February 24, 2021
