Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Lee Kuok Tiung said Najib’s supporters might not answer BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call to back the unity coalition while the former Pekan MP remains in prison.
“So far, there has been no sign that Najib will be pardoned, so it’s hard to see his supporters backing the unity government in the coming polls,” he told FMT.
Lee said any boycott by supporters of the incarcerated former prime minister would represent a “huge handicap” for PH-BN in the state elections, given the former Umno president’s large support base.
He also said there was little likelihood that BN supporters would vote for PH, and vice versa.
“For many years, BN leaders accused DAP of being a communist party, and made their ‘No Anwar, No DAP’ stand very clear.
“PH, on the other hand, has always portrayed BN as being synonymous with corruption. How do you persuade the supporters of one coalition to vote for their traditional rival? That’s a big challenge.
“If BN does poorly, it will reflect poorly on Zahid and place more pressure on him over Najib’s situation. In fact, BN’s results in the 15th general election (GE15) already reflect the grassroots’ sentiments towards Zahid’s leadership.”
Last week, BN chairman Zahid called on Najib’s supporters to back the unity government in the coming elections in six states.
Najib is serving a 12-year jail sentence following his conviction in the SRC International corruption case. His lawyers and supporters claim he was not granted a fair trial. Moves to seek a royal pardon, supported by Umno, were initiated in April.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi does not foresee Najib’s supporters boycotting the state elections, saying efforts to secure Najib’s release will be further hampered if Umno grows weaker following a poor showing in the state elections.
“I think they realise the risk of boycotting Umno. I believe rational supporters won’t do that,” he said.
He said PH and BN would benefit immensely if backed by Najib and his supporters in the coming elections.
However, he did not expect Najib’s supporters to be the deciding factor, pointing out that BN fared badly in GE15 even with their support.