An analyst has cautioned that conflicting messages from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders during the Negeri Sembilan election campaign could cast doubt on the long-term sustainability of their cooperation.
International Islamic University Malaysia analyst Syaza Shukri pointed to recent controversies surrounding PN election director Sanusi Nor’s “Tanah Melayu” remarks and the proposal to refer to the electoral pact as “Perikatan Barisan Nasional”.
She said such differences highlighted the challenges of maintaining cooperation between two political coalitions with differing positions beyond the state election.
According to Syaza, Sanusi’s remarks, which drew criticism from BN leaders, could undermine efforts to attract non-Malay voters who had become disillusioned with Pakatan Harapan.
She said cooperation based solely on electoral interests would be difficult to sustain unless BN and PN developed a common leadership structure and shared political objectives.
Campaign controversies test electoral cooperation
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was among the leaders who criticised Sanusi after he said at a ceramah that Malays only have Tanah Melayu as their homeland, while the Chinese have China and Indians have India.
Sanusi later said his remarks were not intended to question the citizenship or rights of Malaysian Chinese and Indian communities.
Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail reportedly described the proposed name “Perikatan Barisan Nasional” as irrelevant.
The suggestion had earlier been explained by Wawasan secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah, who said it was made spontaneously as a convenient way to refer to the electoral cooperation rather than to establish a formal coalition.
Focus shifts away from bread-and-butter issues
Political scientist Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said BN-PN cooperation appeared smooth at the start of the campaign but had since encountered coordination issues as leaders from both coalitions issued conflicting statements.
He said the differing campaign approaches had forced BN to spend time addressing controversies instead of concentrating on winning voter support.
According to Mazlan, BN should have been focusing on its campaign but had instead been required to respond to and manage issues arising during the election period.
Global Asia Consulting analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said the controversy surrounding Sanusi’s remarks had shifted attention away from issues such as the economy, cost of living and development towards debates over racial identity.
He added that in the social media era, a short video clip often carries greater emotional impact than subsequent explanations, making it difficult to change public perceptions once they have been formed.
Nevertheless, Ahmad Zaharuddin said a single controversy was unlikely to cause the BN-PN partnership to collapse, as political cooperation built on strategic interests often proves resilient.
