KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s decision to charge into the 15th general election (GE15) under only the Barisan Nasional banner and not cooperate with any other party is good for the country’s political landscape, said analysts.
Political scientist Wong Chin Huat, of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University, said with Umno preparing to take on Bersatu in GE15, it will have to present a better alternative in terms of formulating and implementing policies compared with Perikatan Nasional and opposition Pakatan Harapan.
“Second, PH can now bury its pipe dream of a counter-coup and get serious about formulating manifestos and policies for the polls.
“With Umno’s decision to go solo under the BN banner, we may get two serious opposition blocs.
“Whatever the outcome, I think Malaysian politics is more hopeful now. Well done, Umno.”
He said having three or four blocs instead of the conventional two-party coalition is not necessarily a bad thing for Malaysia.
How can Umno quit the cabinet now with the uncertain political outlook and state of emergency?
“What matters is how politicians and parties compete, not how loyal they are to each other.
“If parties compete by offering better policies and the competency to deliver those policies, whoever wins will benefit the people.”
Academician Prof Sivamurugan Pandian – a political scientist at Universiti Sains Malaysia – said there is nothing spectacular about the Umno general assembly this year.
“It is merely an endorsement of what its Supreme Council has been mentioning.
“There is nothing pre-emptive, but the issue is how can Umno quit the cabinet now with the uncertain political outlook and state of emergency?”
He said it is expected for Umno to forge ahead in its original identity rather than continue with Bersatu, which is its splinter party.
The return of BN as one entity makes an interesting proposition, although it remains to be seen where PAS will stand in all of this.
Umno delegates have warned that if PAS doesn’t work with Umno under Muafakat Nasional, it will face the Islamist party in GE15. – The Vibes, March 29, 2021
