Pakatan Harapan (PH) that swept into power on 9th May 2018 general election (GE14) in Malaysia suddenly felt helpless after losing 2 by elections consecutively in Cameron Highlands, Pahang and Semenyih, Selangor. PH held a 9,000 majority in Semenyih in 2018 and lost it to a 2,000 majority by Umno in 2019. A reversal of 11,000 votes.
Many analysts put forward numerous reasons for the loss. Some called it Malay Tsunami, while others said it was the rise of Malay right wing. These can all be true. Umno and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas) are deemed as right wing parties now that announced their agreement to collaborate formally on 5th March 2019.
In my humble opinion, United Malay National Organisation (Umno) lost GE14 in Malaysia because of its former president, Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor. The corruption level of Najib and Rosmah was highest imaginable by Malaysians, especially those involving the investment arm of Malaysian government, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). They were resolutely rejected by the middle class, urban and semi-urban Malays.
However, the middle class and semi-urban Malays did not reject Umno per se. In fact, they still felt Umno was the party which could uphold Malay rights and protect Islam. The right wing Malays have never left Umno even in GE14.
At the same time, the lower income Malays and rural folks still believed in Umno to give handouts and protect Islam. They never hated Najib, and in fact adored him for his breadcrumb handouts. They now miss Najib for PH's lack of handouts.
Liberal Malays, and the rest of Malaysians must be patient in pushing for reforms. Many middle class Malays genuinely feel threatened by the unity of non-Muslims which helped PH gain power in GE14. Care for their feeling and fear when you lots push for reforms to make Malaysia better. PH is still the better choice, despite all its shortcomings. It is not ideal but it is still the best that the people have.
Imagine a situation where PH loses GE15 to see Umno and Pas come into power in 2022. It is world class corruption and lies all over again. Malaysia simply cannot withstand another big corruptive blow by Umno and Pas.
