DAP, PKR MUST NOT ACCEPT FAIR-WEATHER 'FRIENDS': P Kubor loss shows Pas can't go it alone - analysts

PAS’s loss in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election yesterday proves that the party cannot survive without its allies in Pakatan Rakyat even in its stronghold, political analysts say.

They told The Malaysian Insider that the Islamist party was suffering from too many internal problems to single-handedly wrest the state assembly seat from Barisan Nasional (BN).

“This campaign reflects the strength PAS has without its partners, in its own state,” said Merdeka Center executive director, Ibrahim Suffian.

He said without its partners, PAS largely derived its strength from the personal appeal of its spiritual advisor, Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“Now he is in the twilight of his years, he is frail, no longer in the forefront, you can really see the dampening of mood and lack of enthusiasm among PAS and its supporters.”

This lack of enthusiasm, as well as the fact that the by-election was sandwiched in between the school holidays and Hari Raya Haji celebrations, had translated into a lower voter turnout, said Ibrahim.

A low turnout indicated that people from out of town, who were more likely to vote the opposition, had not returned to cast their ballots, he said.

BN's Mat Razi Mat Ali won the Pengkalan Kubor by-election with a bigger majority by defeating PAS's Wan Ibrahim Wan Rosdi, gaining 2,635 extra votes.

Mat Razi obtained 9,961 votes, beating Wan Rosdi who got 7,326 votes, while Independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary only managed 38 votes.

Voter turnout out was at 73%, compared to 80% last year.

The Pengkalan Kubor by-election was held just days after PAS'sdivisive 60th annual Muktamar, which saw different factions come to a head as they discussed the future of the party.

It also came amidst the Selangor menteri besar (MB) impasse that had soured ties among PR following PAS’s decision to break ranks from its allies by refusing to support their choice of MB.

Throughout the campaign, DAP and PKR top leaders were noticeably absent, leaving PAS to manage the campaign alone in Pengkalan Kubor.

“The internal issues between PR had also dampened the mood of some within the electorate a little,” said Ibrahim.

But he doubted that the Selangor affair, and PAS’s actions throughout it, had made an impact on the by-election, given how remote Pengkalan Kubor was.

Dr Wong Chin Huat of the Penang Institute said the by-election hinted at what was in store for PAS’s political future if it continues to break ranks from DAP and PKR.

“Pengkalan Kubor is not just a lesson but a mini-scenario for their future if they were to go it alone,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

He added that the loss showed that Datuk Ahmad Yaakob “could not hold his forte” since taking over as MB from Nik Aziz last year.

“He’s trying to position himself as a better leader than Nik Aziz, he’s been pushing strongly for hudud and selling religion heavily, but it didn’t gain traction,” said Wong.

Independent political analyst, Khoo Kay Peng, said PAS has a long way to go to mend itself if it wanted to win support from voters, especially if PKR and DAP were not around to help.

“Pakatan definitely didn’t pull their weight for PAS, but what affected it most was the factions within PAS itself,” he said.

“The by-election results shows the need for the top leadership to give the party a clearer direction, and to resolve the battle between the conservatives and the moderates.” –TMI