The Unity Government at Risk: Mahathir’s Pact with Perikatan Nasional
The unity government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing a new challenge following the pact between Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to preserve Malay political power.
A Threat to National Unity
According to Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, the pact could sow discord among the people and threaten national unity. He warned that the grouping could have a polarising effect between the Malays and non-Malays, with the non-Malays growing more wary of PN.
"It will widen voter segmentation, particularly between Malays and non-Malays," Azmi told FMT.
Mahathir’s Motivations
Mahathir told a press conference that he and PN leaders had agreed to come together to oppose a "common enemy" of the Malays to "ensure the Malays do not lose power." He claimed that the Malays have been gradually deprived of their rights under Anwar’s government, prompting them to unite to champion the community.
Desperation or Political Mileage?
When asked about the group’s possible motivations, Azmi said it was likely an attempt to gain political mileage and that it reflected Mahathir and PN leaders’ "desperation" to remain relevant.
Anwar’s Government Unfazed
Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia, however, said that Anwar’s government has nothing to be worried about. She pointed out that Mahathir has tried to work together with PAS last year, and this is just the same strategy of him attaching himself to other Malay leaders.
"However, it will be difficult because the Umno-Pakatan Harapan relationship is relatively more stable now," she said.
The Impact on Anwar’s Efforts
Asked if the Mahathir-PN tie-up would throw a spanner in Anwar’s efforts to woo the Malays, Syaza said that the community has always been a difficult segment for the PKR president to win over.
"So, it’s status quo. The people who believe in Mahathir and Muhyiddin’s rhetoric are people who will never vote for Anwar anyway," she said.
Conclusion
The pact between Mahathir and PN has raised concerns about the stability of the unity government. While Mahathir’s motivations may be driven by a desire to remain relevant, Anwar’s government must remain vigilant and focus on building bridges with the middle ground.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the pact between Mahathir and PN?
A: The pact aims to preserve Malay political power and ensure the Malays do not lose power.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the pact?
A: The pact could sow discord among the people and threaten national unity, widening voter segmentation between Malays and non-Malays.
Q: Will the pact affect Anwar’s efforts to woo the Malays?
A: The community has always been a difficult segment for Anwar to win over, and the pact is unlikely to change this.