Barisan Nasional (BN) is hoping to win greater support from Indian voters by promising MIC two seats in the Negeri Sembilan executive council if the coalition forms the state government, but political analysts say fulfilling the pledge may prove difficult.
MIC, the coalition’s Indian-based component party, is contesting only two of the 36 seats in Saturday’s state election.
To secure the two executive council positions promised by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, MIC would have to win both constituencies it is contesting. One analyst said the electoral arithmetic makes the pledge difficult, if not impossible, to fulfil.
Before 2018, when BN governed Negeri Sembilan, MIC was allocated only one seat in the state executive council.
Promise aimed at strengthening BN’s multiracial image
Universiti Malaya political analyst Awang Azman Pawi said the pledge was intended to reinforce BN’s multiracial credentials, particularly after Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor’s recent remarks that Tanah Melayu, the former name of the Malay Peninsula, is the only homeland for Malays.
He said the promise reflected Zahid’s effort to revive BN’s image as a coalition founded on multiracial power-sharing.
“This has become more important because its electoral cooperation with Perikatan Nasional and Sanusi’s controversial remarks could cause concern among non-Malays,” Awang Azman told FMT.
He said BN had consistently stressed that its cooperation with PN in the state election would not alter its commitment to moderation and multiracial power-sharing.
Awang Azman also said BN recognised that Chinese voters would be more difficult to win away from Pakatan Harapan and DAP in the short term, making Indian voters a more realistic target.
He said Indian voters were generally more responsive to local candidates and issues such as employment, education, temples, housing and access to government services.
“In close contests, a shift of several percentage points among Indian voters could swing the outcome in BN’s favour,” he said.
According to Awang Azman, the pledge was also intended to demonstrate that MIC would play a meaningful role within BN rather than serve as a symbolic partner.
Analysts divided over impact of pledge
International Islamic University Malaysia analyst Lau Zhe Wei said the promise was easy to make because the chances of having to fulfil it were relatively low.
He noted that even under the most favourable scenario, MIC might win only the Sri Tanjung seat, leaving it with just one elected assemblyman eligible for appointment to the executive council.
MIC is contesting Sri Tanjung and Seremban Jaya, both of which were won by Pakatan Harapan in the 2023 state election.
G Rajasekaran won Sri Tanjung with a majority of 3,996 votes, while P Gunasekaren retained Seremban Jaya with a majority of 10,507 votes.
Lau pointed out that Negeri Sembilan does not allow the appointment of unelected assemblymen, meaning executive councillors must be chosen from elected representatives.
“The promise is easy to make. In reality, there is little risk of having to fulfil it because MIC is unlikely to win two seats,” he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Sivamurugan Pandian said the pledge remained significant in a small state such as Negeri Sembilan because it offered administrative influence rather than merely symbolic representation.
He said the move reflected BN’s intention to strengthen minority representation and assure the Indian community of a meaningful role in government.
Sivamurugan added that the pledge also reinforced MIC’s relevance within BN and revived the coalition’s traditional power-sharing model, although he cautioned that the promise alone would not necessarily translate into greater Indian support.
“The offer may improve BN’s standing but electoral momentum will also depend on turnout,” he said.
