PH must face race-religion reality, says analyst

Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk says reforms promised by Pakatan Harapan, while important, are unlikely to win back voters on their own, particularly Malay voters.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan (PH) needs to accept that most Malaysians remain more convinced by those who prioritise race-religion politics than those who champion issues and reforms, says political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk.

Azeem, director of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research, said reforms promised by PH, while important, were unlikely on their own to win back voters, particularly Malay voters.

“I don’t think achieving these reforms will actually reverse the tide against PH,” he said, referring to reforms promised by PH, including the abolition of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU).

At the PKR convention in Melaka, which ended yesterday, PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also prime minister, announced the abolition of the AUKU.

Azeem said the recent Johor and Negeri Sembilan polls were telling, as voters, particularly Malay voters, did not appear to be primarily interested in such reforms.

“Even with the economic data that has been shown, I think what really matters on the ground is how the numbers can be translated into the wellbeing of the people,” he said.

“The issue goes beyond economic concerns as Malaysia’s political culture remains heavily shaped by identity, with most parliamentary and state constituencies drawn along ethnic lines.

“There are certain mixed seats, but the majority of the seats are Malay-majority seats.”

This presents a particular challenge for PKR, he said, as it is a multiracial party competing in Malay-majority constituencies against parties such as Umno and Pas.

“PKR is not a Malay party. It is a multiracial party, just as DAP is also a multiracial party,” he said.

Azeem said this was the political reality on the ground and changing it would not happen quickly.

He noted that some PKR leaders had argued that political parties should be judged by their performance rather than identity politics.

“But that is what you wish for. What you wish for and what is happening on the ground are two different things.

“The evidence will tell us that the reality on the ground is totally different,” he added.

While Azeem cautioned that reforms alone would not be enough, DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo said progress on institutional reforms remained necessary if PH was to demonstrate that its participation in government was delivering meaningful change.

In a statement earlier today, Gobind urged Anwar to take immediate action to realise reforms long championed by PH.

These include speeding up legislation to separate the roles of the Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, limiting the prime minister’s tenure to two terms, and amending the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and the Peaceful Assembly Act.

“The groundwork for these changes has already been laid,” Gobind said, adding that the government should consider a special parliamentary session or additional sitting days to ensure the bills are passed before the end of the year.

This came after the DAP Congress in Putrajaya over the weekend voted for its party leaders to remain in the Federal Government.

Azeem also said another challenge for the government was ensuring headline economic achievements translated into tangible benefits for ordinary Malaysians.

He pointed to foreign direct investment as an example.

“When foreign direct investment comes in, the only thing that we gain as a society is employment,” he said.

“The government needs to look at the bigger picture and recognise that economic figures do not necessarily mean much to people if they cannot see the impact on their own lives.

“Sometimes when we present the numbers to the people, it doesn’t mean anything to them. Voters care about the bread-and-butter stuff and how much money they have in their pockets.”

Asked what PH, PKR and DAP should do over the next one-and-a-half years, Azeem returned to what he described as the central issue.

“I think they need to come to the full realisation that the political culture in this country has not changed very much. That is the real crux of the matter.

“Rather than assuming the political culture has already shifted towards issue-based politics, PH must accept the existing reality and formulate its strategy accordingly,” he added.