PETALING JAYA: The unity government can increase its support among the Malays by showing that it is able to capture the hearts and minds of the community, according to analysts.
They said this was evident in the Kuala Kubu Baharu, Nenggiri and Mahkota by-elections that took place this year, where the unity government was able to stem the erosion of Malay support.
Dr Azmi Hassan said one of the main reasons that turned away Malay supporters was Umno’s cooperation with DAP.
"So, the unity government needs to demonstrate that it can criticise DAP. Just like what happened in Nenggiri when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said there was no need for DAP to campaign there.
"That resonated well with Malay supporters there as Umno had stood up to DAP,” said the senior fellow with Nusantara Strategic Research Academy.
During the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan in August, Barisan defeated Perikatan Nasional with an increased majority, topping 17 out of 20 polling districts there.
Azmi also said it is crucial for Umno to be louder than Perikatan in defending Malay interests and Islam.
"Because Perikatan is trying to show that it is the only side that can protect Malays and Islam as a religion, so Umno needs to up the ante.
"Umno also needs to put forward its criticisms even though it is part of the government,” he added.
Dr Mazlan Ali, a political analyst from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, said Malay voters in Kelantan and Terengganu are particularly sensitive towards DAP because as the opposition party in the past, it has championed various touchy issues pertaining to race and religion, such as the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
"Some DAP leaders are okay, but it seems like the old guard are not willing to compromise on Malay rights and Islam,” he said.
According to Mazlan, DAP would be more acceptable to progressive and moderate Malay voters living in urban areas.
"For example, Malays in Johor will not have a problem with DAP,” he said.
Principal adviser for the Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia, Dr Oh Ei Sun, said socio-economic issues would play a key role in determining which side gets the Malay votes.
"For instance, more jobs for those in the urban areas and more business opportunities in the rural areas.
"When we say business opportunities, it means selling products more easily,” he added.
He said a more "conservative” image will also appeal to the Malay voters.
Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Malay youth will be the deciding factor on how the Malay votes will be divided in the 16th general election (GE16).
"The trend shows that many Umno voters who voted for Perikatan in GE15 and the 2023 state elections are slowly coming back to Umno, mainly due to party loyalty. Hence, the role of Malay youth as the decider since they don’t hold similar party loyalty.
"In GE15, they overwhelmingly went to Perikatan but in GE16, this capricious lot might not vote for Perikatan again – or even vote, for that matter,” he opined.
