Melaka tensions could spread to Johor, federal level, PH-BN warned

Melaka tensions could spread to Johor, federal level, PH-BN warned

PETALING JAYA: Tensions between Amanah and Umno in Melaka could spread to Johor and even affect the partnership of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 16th general election, an analyst has warned.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Amanah had been noticeably outspoken in voicing discontent with giving way to Umno in several by-elections, even in areas that are traditionally BN strongholds.

“Take the Nenggiri by-election, for example. Although Nenggiri ‘belongs’ to Umno, Amanah was still dissatisfied and wanted to contest,” he told FMT.

Kluang Amanah had also lobbied to represent the unity coalition in the by-election for the seat of Mahkota in Johor, a state constituency that it wrested from Umno in 2018.

Azmi said PH and BN must resolve these disputes amicably and quickly, warning that discontent could otherwise spread.

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“If Amanah is being made a PH proxy to prod BN, this would not be good as it would cause instability,” he said.

“In Johor, for example, there’s a possibility that BN won’t want to work with PH in the next state election since BN is dominant there.”

Over the weekend, Hang Tuah Jaya Amanah passed a resolution urging PH to prepare to go solo in the next Melaka state election, which is due by 2027.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, a Melaka executive councillor, previously welcomed a BN-PH clash in the state polls.

There are 28 seats in the Melaka state assembly. In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 seats, PH five, and Perikatan Nasional two. One Umno assemblyman later defected to PAS, purportedly before the state’s anti-hopping enactment came into effect.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said Amanah appeared discontented with Umno’s “arrogance” in Melaka.

She said Melaka Umno seemed to prioritise its interests in the state over the bigger picture of a PH-BN cooperation in GE16, and that any clash between federal allies at the state level would hamper ties and weaken the unity coalition in GE16.

“The final decision, however, will be made by the central leadership of the coalition, if they really want to go it alone,” she said.