Muhyiddin Crafting Alliances With Non Malay Parties To Shun Too Muslim Views Of Pn

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PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says forging alliances with more non-Malay parties could secure victory in the next general election while projecting PN as a more moderate coalition.
While he believes that PN can rack up to 22 extra parliamentary seats in the next general election, potentially paving the way for a return to Putrajaya, he acknowledged PN’s reputation as “too Malay-Muslim” but insisted efforts were underway to show it as “moderate but firm”.
He pointed to Bersatu’s associate wing, which already includes non-Malay members, two of whom sit on the party’s Supreme Council.
“This will not change overnight, but if it continues for five, 10, 20 years, people will see us as a party that fights for all,” said the Pagoh MP in an interview with Sinar Harian.
The former prime minister also said PN projections indicated that avoiding multi-cornered fights and broadening its appeal beyond Malay-Muslim voters could yield a 2% to 5% swing in support.
“If we can avoid clashes between parties, we could add 15 to 22 seats, even with just a 3% vote swing.”
In July, Muhyiddin also met with leaders of 11 opposition-aligned parties, including Gerakan, Pejuang, Putra, Muda, PSM, and several Indian-based parties, to discuss forming a broader cross-party coalition. He described the feedback as “very positive”, adding that the proposal would be tabled at PN’s supreme council meeting.
Meanwhile, PN deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin rallied supporters at Bersatu’s annual assembly, declaring 16th General Election the “most important episode” to secure Malaysia’s future and prevent the younger generation from becoming “refugees in their own land”.

With PN holding 68 seats in Parliament — 43 by PAS and 25 by Bersatu — the coalition is betting on strategic alliances and expanded appeal to mount its strongest challenge yet against the Anwar-led government. —  Focus Malaysia

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