Wan Emril Nizam Embong, a member of the Kuantan Umno liaison committee, told FMT even former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is chairman of PH and PPBM, would not be able to do much to sway votes away from Barisan Nasional.
Pakatan has decided to let PPBM contest six parliamentary seats in Pahang, leaving four for PKR, three for DAP and one for Amanah.
Pahang PH chief Fauzi Abdul Rahman recently said the opposition alliance believed that PPBM, being a splinter of Umno, could draw the rural votes to its side.
He said Pahang’s rural folk held Mahathir in high regard.
But Wan Emril said Pakatan would have to bank on a lot more than just Mahathir and PPBM if it was hoping for big wins in the state.
“PPBM has no grassroots in Pahang. It has no strength and no icons in Pahang,” he said.
He acknowledged that Mahathir had some appeal with voters, but not enough to make a significant dent on BN.
“You need to look at the other factors as well, such as the state’s leadership and the fact that Pahang is the prime minister’s state,” he said.
“The politics in Pahang is different from elsewhere and the geopolitics in each district is different as well.”
He said Mahathir’s strengths might serve the opposition better in the northern states.
“Maybe the Mahathir factor will work in the north. Maybe it will work in Kedah, but not in Pahang. The opposition needs to try harder here.”