Third Force Won T Be In Time For Ge15 Say Analysts

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A proposed “third force” to bring together minor parties for the next general election has received the thumbs down from political analysts.PETALING JAYA: Analysts have poured cold water on a call for a “third force opposition coalition” at the next general election, saying such a group will not have sufficient time to appeal to voters.
Last week, political commentators Lim Teck Ghee and Murray Hunter had proposed the formation of a third force comprising the likes of Warisan, Muda, Parti Sosialis Malaysia and Gerak Independent to win over disgruntled and young voters.
In a letter in FMT, the pair argued that it made sense for these opposition parties to join forces for GE15 rather than linking up with Pakatan Harapan, given PKR’s poor performance at the last three state elections.
However, James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute told FMT that this third force would not have enough time to “package and sell their ideas” if the elections were held this year.
This was particularly since a third coalition would be likely to vie for seats currently held by PH.
“Their idea of selling a non-racial approach has no takers in rural Malay areas. Therefore, it is almost certain that they will only target urban areas, and unfortunately, most of these seats are held by PH.”
Political scientist Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said PH would stand to lose the most from the emergence of a third force.
He said both groups catered to similar voters: the urban communities and the Chinese and Malay middle class.
He said Sabah-based Warisan might gain some support from voters in rural Sabah but lacked a similar footing in Peninsular Malaysia.
The third force would have very little time, he said. “I don’t think they can do much if the elections happen this year, they are physically and mentally not ready.”
Anantha Raman Govindasamy, associate professor at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, said a third force would need to stick around beyond GE15 for it to bring about any substantial change.
The group would need to handle issues such as its plans to win voters’ trust; whether it would focus on young Malay voters or the middle class; and which party would be able to capture the rural Malay vote.
“The third force would take maybe 10 to 15 years before they can stand on the same footing as PH, the same timeframe as PH did,” he said. - FMT

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