Voters Want Muafakat Bersatu Cooperation But Hopes Fade

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The Perikatan Nasional government has been in power for merely a year but already rifts have appeared between coalition partners Umno and Bersatu.
Despite objections by some party leaders, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently announced the party's stance to not work with Bersatu for the next general election. 
Analysts point out that since the two parties are eyeing voters and seats from a similar demographic, their alliance was destined to be vulnerable.
Bersatu, which is now wielding considerable influence in the government, is also threatening Umno's position as the main defender of Malay rights. 
PAS, meanwhile, settles on playing the role of a mediator between Umno and Bersatu with the hope that a weak Bersatu will benefit it during seat negotiations for the forthcoming general election.
With each party having different agendas, the majority of Malay voters that Kinitv spoke to from Petaling Jaya and Sepang in Selangor to Kedah in the north expressed hope that all three Malay parties would find a way to work together, saying this would benefit voters the most.

Watch the KiniTV video below: 




“If Umno and PAS are united and are in an all-Malay alliance, that will be good. If they truly unite in an all-Malay front, that is fine,” Qhazali Ahmad (above) from Kedah told KiniTV in a recent interview.

This was echoed by Tuah (below), a 26-year-old shopkeeper in Sepang, Selangor, who said that he hoped that there would be no misunderstanding among the Malays.


“Followers of these parties are bumiputera too. If possible, we do not want hostility among them. Let's fix things if it's possible.”
When asked if a united three-party front for the next election would ever be possible, not many interviewed were hopeful. 
A man from Sungai Tiang, Kedah, who only wanted to be known as 'Hassan' said that in his town, the rift between Umno and PAS was so distinct that people with different political inclinations often avoided appearing at the same event.
“At Sungai Tiang, and I don't know if this is the same in other places, people who support Umno only stick to themselves. The party supporters stay apart. If there's a feast organised by a family that supports Umno, PAS supporters won't be there. They are quite divided.”
'We are fed up'
Kak Cik (below) said that all three parties seemed to prefer staying on their separate paths.


“Bersatu wants to go its own way as they want to take it all and that makes us unhappy. We don't really want that.”
Other voters that KiniTV spoke to expressed their disappointment over the prolonged political tussle that they were now witnessing.
“Are they not aware that we don't care any more because we are fed up? Even after the last general election, after they were toppled, they are still divided.  
"They are doing whatever they feel like doing. So do we need to listen to them?” 27-year-old 'Joe', a promoter in Dengkil, Selangor, told KiniTV.




Ahmad (above), also from Kedah, was simply disappointed that the politicians were not thinking about the people at all.
“It's all about themselves... when they fell (from power) and got caught, billions (of ringgit) were found. 
"Although, the ministers don't earn much from their salaries, they are living luxurious lives and are richer than business owners. This is the politics of cari makan to live a good life.” - Mkini

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