The Perikatan Nasional (PN)’s failure to achieve a “Sweeping Win” in the six state polls, forming 5-1 if not 6-0 of six state governments, is the most stark result yesterday.
PN leaders of PAS and Bersatu were confident of a 5-1, if not 6-0, result and the forming of at least five state governments but it proved to sheer bombast.
Although PN made headway in the three states of Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, it was helpless to stop the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional coalition from winning two-thirds majority in Penang and Negri Sembilan.
Even more important, the PN boast that a big win of PN in the six state polls will lead to the toppling of the Anwar unity government at the national level has turned out to be mere empty talk.
Last night’s results made me think of the 2004 General Elections, where PAS lost its big gains in the 1999 General Elections where it won an unprecedented 27 parliamentary seats and the Terengganu state government, but in 2004, was reduced to seven parliamentary seats and lost the Terengganu state government.
Is this the electoral result awaiting PN, especially PAS, in the 16th General Election in 2027?
It is important that the Anwar unity government address the concerns about economic deprivation and anxiety behind the PN electoral gains in the six state polls and that is why the Special Parliament in September next month is important to give parliamentary sanction to Madani economy signalling policy changes and institutional reforms beneficial to all sections of the Malaysian community.
It should not waste the four years to 2027 from addressing the economic grievances of the people and make Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan the example of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah instead of reducing the position of Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan to the status of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
The six state polls had been a disastrous outing for MUDA, which I had advised against.
When the country is faced with a choice between Big Rights and Big Wrongs, between the opportunity to rise up again to become a great world-class nation or to continue in the trajectory which will end up in Malaysia becoming a divided, failed and corrupt state, there is no other alternative.
I have said that I admired the idealism of the MUDA candidates although they have all lost their deposits.
I advise them not to be disheartened, and would even suggest that they explore the possibility of merging with DAP.
I am not making an official DAP offer as I have retired from the DAP frontline leadership.
It is only my personal opinion.
It is for the leaderships of DAP and MUDA to decide on this political development.