Khairy in Bersatu: Perikatan’s good luck charm in S’gor election?

KUALA LUMPUR – As the upcoming state elections inch closer, all parties are set to ramp up their campaigning efforts in the race to win voters’ hearts.

The sky is the limit when it comes to the measures that parties would take. This includes taking in ex-members of a rival coalition.

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin is said to be charming, ambitious, and capable. But, if he ultimately joins Bersatu and campaigns under Perikatan Nasional (PN), will it be enough for a green wave in Selangor?

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Prof Azmi Hassan said Khairy will not be as valuable to Bersatu or PN, as he is synonymous with neither Selangor nor Negri Sembilan.

“When I say synonymous, I’m referring to Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Perlis. 

“These two are very synonymous and one of the reasons why the state fell to PN,” he told The Vibes.

This cannot be said for Khairy and Selangor. In fact, Tan Sri Noh Omar has added more value to PN, in terms of the Selangor state election.” 

Instead, Azmi added that the menteri besar candidates from each party will be the factor in attracting votes in Selangor, as it is a prized state with a large gross domestic product contribution.

Although PN won numerous seats in Selangor during the 15th general election (GE15), Azmi said the coalition cannot replicate its success in the northern states.

“PN did make some headway in Selangor in terms of parliamentary seats and votes in each constituency, but to say there will be a green wave in Selangor is far-fetched. 

“If the allocation of seats between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) works well, it will give PN a run for its money.

“If you add the results and statistics of the 2018 state elections with the latest GE15 statistics for Selangor, the combination of votes for PH and BN overwhelms what PN can manage to score,” he said.

Squeaky clean image no more?

During the 2018 Selangor election, PH won 51 out of 56 seats, which was an increase of 29 seats from the preceding polls.

Similarly, political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the possibility of a green wave in Selangor is slim.

“PN’s image is clearly not as it was during GE15, in which they used the ‘clean’ slogan.

“It is now involved in corruption cases and has become a ‘court cluster,’ which jeopardised its popularity.

“With Selangor PH’s track record in helping the people through its various policies for a long time compared to PN, it would be even more difficult for the latter to conquer the state,” he said.

Azman pointed out that even former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali was rejected by voters, let alone Khairy, who has not joined any party or announced which state he is contesting in.

‘Khairy unlikely to make waves, but look out for green tide’

Meanwhile, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun opined that Khairy’s possible affiliation in Bersatu will not significantly influence election results due to several reasons.

“First, those who support Khairy for his supposed progressiveness or reform-mindedness are likely to be hugely disappointed by his jumping to, what they perceive to be, the regressive and conservative side of the political divide, and would thus be unlikely to vote for him anymore,” he said.

Second, those who are prone to support PN are most likely not attracted by its star power, but by its perceived image of being religiously conservative and racially supremacist,” he added.

As such, Oh said the perception of PN being religiously conservative will attract a cohort of voters who are increasingly persuaded of the same regressive political ideology as the coalition.

While Khairy may not be influential, Oh added political parties should keep an eye out for the “relentless” green wave that is likely to sweep most states.

Khairy has not made a decision to join Bersatu and stand in the coming elections in six states, which was offered by party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

However, Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris said Khairy must submit a Bersatu membership form and agree with the party’s decision on which seat he will contest, one either in Selangor or Negri Sembilan.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said that Khairy, alongside former Ketereh Umno division chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa, is likely to join PN. – The Vibes, May 13, 2023