PETALING JAYA: The unity government convention tomorrow can be a “turning point” for the country’s politics as a display of cooperation among the different political parties, says an analyst.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the convention was important to show that the various parties in the Anwar Ibrahim-led administration were united.
Anwar’s government consists of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, and is supported by other parties such as Muda, Warisan and Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
The unity government is expected to face its first real test in the upcoming elections in six states.
The opposition, Perikatan Nasional, is set to take advantage of the “green wave” of support it saw in the general election (GE15) last November, when the coalition made unexpected gains.
Azmi said tomorrow’s convention was an opportunity for the various parties in the government to properly align their objectives and dispel any doubts about Anwar’s administration.
“The unity and stability of the government is important for voters to make a choice in the six states (elections).
“The problem is that the government’s public relations with the people is clearly lacking,” he told FMT.
Azmi said the convention should be used as a platform to address the “green wave” and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s “Malay Proclamation”.
Another political analyst, Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin of Universiti Teknologi Mara, said although it was important for the parties in the unity government to perform well in the state polls, heavy losses would not necessarily mean the people had rejected the outcome of GE15.
He said that would simply show the country’s politics was “healthy” and that the opposition had been able to provide a counterbalance.
PH-controlled Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang as well as PAS-led Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah – must hold their respective state elections within the next three months.