10 Years On Can Amanah Pull The Weight Against The Rising Popularity Of Pas

---

 
AMANAH faces significant challenges as it heads into the GE16. Despite being nearly a decade old and part of the Federal Government twice, the party struggles to gain support, particularly from the Malay-Muslim voter segment, where its popularity remains below five percent.
A study by Ilham Centre highlights that Malay-Muslim voters still favor UMNO, PAS, and PKR.
Amanah’s successes in previous elections were primarily in urban, mixed-demographic areas and heavily reliant on the PH brand.
Without PKR and DAP’s support, Amanah’s chances of winning diminish significantly.
Thus it appears that Amanah struggles to appeal to Malay-Muslim voters, who favor conservative values and prioritise Islamic and Malay rights.
Perceived as insufficiently “Malay-Islamic” and hindered by its ties with DAP, Amanah faces challenges in gaining trust from this key voter base.
A key issue is the lack of a clear direction, even though Amanah has been led by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, as president for two terms.
Mohamad Sabu officiated the 2024 National Convention at KSL Esplanade, emphasising the party’s commitment to democracy, social justice, and inclusivity.
He urged all party members to expand their reach and play a greater role in the nation’s development through an inclusive and progressive political platform.
“Amanah will continue striving to be a relevant, courageous, and principled party in championing the rights of the people, especially in creating a more equitable and fair economic and social system,” he stated.
The event discussed strategies for the upcoming general elections and development plans to better represent the people.
Representatives from Pakatan Harapan and community leaders attended, showing support for Amanah’s initiatives to strengthen its political stance and promote sustainable progress.
While Amanah aims to be a progressive, centrist, and inclusive party focusing on diverse issues beyond just Malay-Muslim matters, this approach seems ill-suited when they are allocated to contest seats in majority Malay-Muslim areas, the study shows.
To succeed in GE16, Amanah must recalibrate its approach, balancing broader national issues with championing Malay-Muslim concerns to resonate with this influential segment. — Focus Malaysia

---