Analysts dismiss Perikatan’s defection claim as feint for Pelangai poll

October 7, 2023

Analysts dismiss Perikatan’s defection claim as feint for Pelangai poll

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that his coalition could take control of the Pahang state government through defections after today’s by-election was unlikely, said political analysts.

Speaking to Malay Mail, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Azmi Hassan said the absence of an anti-party hopping law in Pahang was not in itself a significant risk.

He said other factors, such as the influence of the Pahang royal house, would deter possible defectors from following through.

The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, is the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong and has repeatedly urged politicians to refrain from destabilising existing governments for their personal ambitions.

“I don’t think BN reps will jump seats if PN wrests the Pelangai seat.

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“In Pahang, the Sultan is very influential. PH MPs or any assemblymen will think hard before jumping ship in order to form a new state government because this will not go very well with the Royal Palace in Pahang.

“The palace doesn’t want to see state governments formed through dismantling,” he said.

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He said that the potential backlash from the palace, coupled with Umno’s control over the menteri besar position, provided little incentive for BN representatives to switch allegiance.

Commenting on PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s claim that some Umno representatives would defect, he said this was likely just psychological warfare to win over voters ahead of the by-election today.

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“Even though Tuan Ibrahim said that there are Umno reps who will jump ship, they have been using this tactic for a long time, not only for the state government of Pahang but especially for the federal government,” he said.

It was reported that Cheka assemblyman Tuan Ibrahim said that PN is open to receiving the four assemblymen who wish to jump ship as Pahang has not passed an anti-hopping law.

According to International Islamic University Malaysia political science assistant professor Syaza Shukri, there was very little possibility of BN defections to PN after the poll.

“The optics would not look good for them to turn on their party after the people have made it clear they have a low opinion of politicians who jump parties without reason,” she said.

She also pointed out that the BN representatives would have little reason to do so given that the unity government’s control of the Pahang assembly was strong.

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However, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Ethnic Studies deputy director Professor Kartini Aboo Talib a PN victory in Pelangai today would accelerate the swing in BN support towards the coalition going forward.

She also clarified that the anti-hopping law, being part of the Federal Constitution, takes precedence over state rules.

Earlier this week, Muhyiddin reportedly suggested that the coalition would be able to take over the Pahang administration if it wins the Pelangai by-election and hinted that Tuan Ibrahim would be nominated to be its menteri besar.

The Pelangai state by-election today will see a three-cornered contest involving BN’s Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, PN’s Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasni.

The Pelangai by-election is being held following the death of Umno assemblyman and Pahang executive committee chairman Datuk Johari Harun in the plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam on August 17.