After State Polls Analysts Say Malay Voters See Pas As New Political Centre

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It’s not about the economy or lack of opportunities, if it is, PAS would be abandoned by the Malay voters because all the four or three states that are led by PAS are way down in terms of economic opportunities, income and gross domestic product (GDP).
(MMO) – The results of the six state elections on August 12 have cemented the view that Malay voters have shifted away from Umno and firmly towards PAS, according to analysts.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) senior fellow Azmi Hassan said this was specific to PAS rather than Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) or Perikatan Nasional (PN) as a whole.
“This is because most of these voters (Malay voters) previously supported Umno, and Umno (now) seems to be very weak because of the relationship with DAP which Umno cannot counter even though they are part of the government,” Azmi told Malay Mail when contacted. He said there is clear support for the “green wave” of political Islam, as Malay voters no longer trust Umno will protect the interests of the Malays.
These voters see PAS as the next party that can safeguard their interests.
“PAS has been selling to the public that they are a party that is synonymous to religion, that is their rhetoric during the election campaign, and the rhetoric after the election campaign and even after they formed the state government also they didn’t change this rhetoric of ‘whoever against PAS is against Islam’. “That’s the message that they have been trying to sell and it bites in this case,” he said.
He stressed that the Malay voters chose PN not because of the economy as otherwise they would have abandoned PAS.
“It’s not about the economy or lack of opportunities, if it is, PAS would be abandoned by the Malay voters because all the four or three states that are led by PAS are way down in terms of economic opportunities, income and gross domestic product (GDP).
“It’s about religion, race, Islam and so the Malays, when PAS portrayed themselves as the hero that can protect them from the onslaught of the federal government where DAP is perceived as the kingmaker, PAS is really taking advantage of this perception,” he said.
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