Mustafa, who heads the Political, Security and International Affairs Council of the National Council of Professors, told FMT this was due to PPBM and Amanah’s link to DAP.
On Nov 20, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali announced the Malay rights group’s GE14 plan, which has since been criticised by former prime minister and PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said the move was aimed at benefiting Prime Minister Najib Razak and his ruling BN coalition.
Mustafa said rural Malay voters who were unhappy with Umno may be uncomfortable with PPBM and Amanah’s links to DAP, hence may vote for Perkasa or PAS, if the Islamist party does not enter into any political pact with Pakatan Harapan.
“Meanwhile, Umno is unaffected because their supporters will continue to vote for them.”
He added that DAP would reap the most benefit out of any relationship with PPBM and Amanah.
“In urban areas, where DAP is strongest, PPBM and Amanah will urge urban Malays to vote DAP and there are many mixed areas where Malays make up a significant number of voters.”
“In rural Malay areas however, the number of Chinese is minimal, so while DAP supporters there will vote PPBM and Amanah, anti-Umno Malays that distrust DAP may opt for Perkasa instead,” he said, supporting earlier reports that Perkasa will field “spoiler” candidates in GE14.
Universiti Malaya political analyst associate professor Awang Azman Pawi said history showed Ibrahim was willing to do anything when it came to politics, noting that the former Pasir Mas MP had previously contested in elections as a candidate for Umno, Semangat 46 and PAS.
“So I would not put it past him to field 50 independent candidates.”
He said although Perkasa did not hold the influence it once did and would find it difficult to even win 10% of the seats its independents contested, the fielding of the 50 candidates is a stumbling block to the opposition.
“Perkasa will not be able to get much support among the younger generation, who are less inclined to race based parties, but they will surely be able to split the votes, especially among the older generation.”
He added however, that fielding 50 independent candidates would not come without risk for Perkasa, as heavy defeats in GE14 would see the Malay rights group being deemed irrelevant.
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