PETALING JAYA: A political analyst has predicted that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) power can be restored, only if it accepts other Malay-based parties into the coalition.
Former academic Azmi Hassan said BN had the option to invite other parties to join forces, such as PPBM, PAS or Amanah.
“With the Malays under one BN organisation, assisted by MIC, MCA and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) albeit minimally, BN will be capable of attracting voters of all races,” he told FMT.
BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan had suggested that the coalition should be open to accepting any party that wished to join it, but with the consensus of its component parties.
He said BN had to “build new strength” after its loss in the 14th general election (GE14).
Commenting on Makkal Sakti president RS Thanenthiran’s request for the party to contest on a BN ticket for GE15, Mohamad said this should be considered as the party had been a loyal friend to BN, even though its status was not that of a component.
Azmi said BN still held the confidence of voters as evidenced in several by-elections it won following GE14, although it was largely due to Umno’s strength and popularity.
He noted that accepting the participation of smaller parties would strengthen the coalition, but only to a certain extent.
“Theoretically, the combination of Makkal Sakti and MIC could attract Indian voters. The same goes for MCA and other Chinese-based parties, as well as PBRS with other Borneo parties,” he said.
Another political analyst, Mohd Izani Mohd Zain of Universiti Putra Malaysia, said BN needed to find political allies beyond MCA and MIC to strengthen the coalition.
He said BN needed more non-Malay based parties in the group, adding that “parties in Sabah and Sarawak should join BN for them to gain more support”.
Meanwhile, Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Mohamad’s comments could have taken into account the country’s changing political landscape, but that his suggestions needed to be refined by the BN Supreme Council.