KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Razak’s call for unity between the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and its splinter, United People’s Party (UPP), shows his new strength in tackling discord among BN components, says political analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff.

The Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer said there was a reason for Najib to have addressed the matter in public earlier instead of talking to the parties behind closed doors.

“It was necessary for Najib to make a public statement about the matter,” he said.

“He could be flexing his muscles to dispel public perception of him as being weak when handling this type of issues among component parties,” he told FMT.

Najib could also be sending a signal to other BN parties that are bickering with each other, including those in Peninsular Malaysia like MIC and myPPP, ahead of the 14th general election (GE14), he said.

Kamarul said Najib, who is BN chairman and Umno president, could be worried about the implications for the ruling coalition if squabbling among the parties becomes public.

“He should be worried if both parties fail to resolve their differences as it could cost BN some seats in Sarawak, a state they’ve always considered as a ‘safe deposit’ during elections.

“It would be very risky for BN if these differences are not resolved before the general election.

“As they are currently being aired in public, it may embolden other component parties to do the same,” Kamarul said.

Najib had earlier urged both SUPP and UPP to resolve their differences before GE14, which is due by August next year.

He said as BN chairman he believed that Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg would have a formula to end the rift.

In 2015, SUPP’s then deputy secretary-general and Sibu branch chairman Wong Soon Koh left the party to form UPP due to unresolved leadership issues.

Independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng said Najib was applying “public pressure” to ensure the parties put their bickering behind them.

“It’s a plea, bringing public pressure to bear on these two parties to resolve their differences,” he said.

“Najib has the influence as chairman of BN and being the most powerful man in Malaysia to speak to the parties in private, and he does not need to make a public statement about the matter,” he added.

Khoo said Najib is probably concerned that SUPP needs to be strengthened to help BN capture some of the urban seats in Sarawak.

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