Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said certain “mid-level Umno leaders” had directed “confrontational remarks” at their unity government partners following Barisan Nasional’s victory at the Mahkota by-election in an attempt to “project strength” to grassroots supporters.
However, he said, these statements only served to show up the Pakatan Harapan-BN alliance as still being in its infancy and struggling to solidify.
“Mid-level leaders may not yet fully grasp the dynamics of this cooperation, but with time, deeper discussions and the involvement of more rational and experienced top leaders, these issues can be resolved,” he told FMT.
“Anwar can use this opportunity to showcase his ability to manage diverse opinions, while ensuring the coalition remains strong.”
Awang Azman said this was a common challenge faced by all leaders who manage broad and diverse coalitions.
“In the long run, if all parties embrace diversity with respect and avoid open conflict, the unity government will grow stronger,” he said.
The recent Mahkota by-election, which saw BN’s Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah clinch victory with a thumping 20,648-vote majority, was celebrated not just by the Umno-led coalition but across the entire unity government.
However, amid the euphoria, some Umno leaders resorted to firing broadsides at DAP, accusing the PH component of failing to fully mobilise Chinese voters who made up 34% of the constituency’s 66,318 voters.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said such fractures are commonplace in any coalition government as component parties jostle for dominance.
“It is plain for all to see that the component parties of the current coalition government hold on to one another solely to hold on to power,” he said.
Oh said Umno leaders were merely using such statements to regain some of the party’s lost dominance.
With Umno no longer dominating Malaysian politics, “it throws tantrums”, seeking to be taken seriously again, said Oh.
“And who knows, it might thus insinuate itself back to dominance.”