Penang Pakatan set for another win: Analyst
PAKATAN HARAPAN (PH), whose predecessor Pakatan Rakyat won in Penang with more than two-thirds of the state seats in the last two general elections, looks set to secure another victory in the coming polls.
The absence of any indication of a swing in Chinese and urban votes in the state, which is literally “untouched” by the latest electoral boundary redelineation exercise, and the fact that PH component parties will be contesting under a common symbol – that of PKR’s – augur well for the Opposition, Oriental Daily News reported yesterday.
In the 12th general election, PH won 11 of the 13 parliament and 29 of the 40 state seats.
In the last polls, it lost one parliamentary seat but gained a state seat to keep the tally of parliament and state seats at 40.
In an interview with the daily, Penang Institute’s head of political and social analysis, Wong Chin Huat, said PH’s chances in Penang, which are already high, will be boosted by a Malay political tsunami, which he believes would happen judging from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s temporary suspension in the run-up to GE14.
On MCA’s and Gerakan’s desire to achieve a breakthrough by winning some state seats in Penang, Wong said he could not find any seat that would allow the two parties to break their duck.
Asked if PAS and other smaller parties would effectively throw a spanner in the works by creating three or multi-cornered fights, Wong believes the real fight will be between the two coalitions, with PH parties contesting under a common symbol.
There will be even less room for smaller parties, except for candidates who have been working hard to serve the electorate over the years, he said.
Asked if issues in the state – such as the corruption trial of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the controversy surrounding the undersea tunnel project, and flood problems – would affect the election outcome in Penang, Wong believes the people will be more concerned about national issues.