Kamarul Zaman Yusoff also warned that PH could face defeat in the next by-election in Rantau as well if it does not make good on its promises.

He told FMT that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory on Saturday was no surprise, saying it was “crystal clear” that the public was dissatisfied with PH’s performance.

“This is something that PH can’t ignore. Apart from the unfulfilled promises, people are not satisfied with PH because it seems like it is not protecting the rights of the Malays and upholding the position of Islam.”

He added that PH should be concerned about BN’s apparent shift in momentum since its Cameron Highlands victory in January.

He suggested that PH form a special committee to focus on its unfulfilled promises in order to appear more serious about honouring its manifesto.

On Najib Razak, who had been active on the campaign trail in Semenyih, Kamarul said the former prime minister had played a role by representing “the voice of the people”.

“PH has to regain the trust and confidence, not only of the voters in Rantau, but of people nationwide.”

Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi meanwhile said the Semenyih polls were a form of referendum for the government to start fulfilling its election pledges.

He agreed that it must not be seen as neglecting the interests of the Malays and Islam. In this context, he said, the PAS-Umno collaboration appeared to be proving effective despite controversies such as the RM90 million allegedly paid to the Islamist party by Umno.

“The PAS-Umno collaboration will benefit Malay-Muslims in the long run. PAS will support any party that is seen as safeguarding the interests of Islam and the Malays.”

He also listed other issues of concern to the people, including the decrease in number of civil servants, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Seafield temple fracas, and the unexplained deaths of six firefighters in a disused mining pool in Puchong last October.