GEORGE TOWN: Based on last night's state election results, it is obvious that the green wave has not really subsided since the 15th general election (GE15), a former senior DAP leader said.

Dr P. Ramasamy, who quit DAP recently said, as predicted, the Pakatan Harapan - Barisan Nasional coalition was able to retain the states of Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang whereas Perikatan Nasional was able to consolidate victory in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, the Malay heartland.

He said what was interesting was not the anticipated, outright wins, but the specific performance of PH-BN and PN.

He said PH-BN maintained its two-thirds majority comfortably in Negri Sembilan and to some extent a reduced two-thirds majority in Penang but lost the two-thirds in Selangor.

"The ultimate winner in the state elections is the PN coalition, consisting of Bersatu and Pas. PN candidates picked up support ranging from 15 to 30 per cent.

"While Bersatu made inroads in Selangor, and to a limited extent in Negri Sembilan, Pas' performance was rather outstanding in the northern and eastern states.

"PN completely dominated the three state seats in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency in Sebarang Prai, once the stronghold of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's family," he said today.

Elaborating further, Ramasamy said that PH-BN's only impressive performance was in the state of Negri Sembilan.

He said, while Pas and DAP were able to maintain their political dominance among the Malays and non-Malays, particularly the Chinese, the performance of Umno, PKR and Amanah was dismal.

In Penang; DAP managed to secure its 19 state seats without much effort, PKR was able to secure victory in only seven of the 13 seats it contested, Amanah managed to secure one seat and Umno two seats.

He said the presence of non-Malay voters assisted in these victories because there was not much support from the Malays.

"For the first time in history, the opposition in the Penang state assembly will consist of PN elected representatives, mostly from Pas.

"As predicted by analysts before the state election in Penang, the majority of the PH-BN would be a reduced one.

"It is obvious as predicted, and as a follow up from the last GE15, the majority of the Malay voters rode on the green wave to support PN.

"Due to the electoral gains achieved, PN leaders were bold enough to call for the resignation of Anwar and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he added.

Looking at the above, Ramasamy said It was obvious that the green wave had not really subsided after the GE15.

He noted that its sustainability seemed to be predicated on the unpopularity of Umno as the lynchpin of BN.

"There is only so much that Anwar or PH could do to ensure Umno's relevance in politics.

"The only saving grace for BN was its winning of 10 seats in Negri Sembilan. There is a possibility that an Umno candidate might be proposed as the next Menteri Besar of Negri Sembilan," he said.

Meanwhile, Ramasamy said that despite DAP having managed to maintain its relevance among the non-Malays, particularly the Chinese, it might face the dim prospect of supporting and sustaining the Malay-based political parties such as PKR, Amanah and Umno.

"Whether the party will have a choice is difficult to determine at this point in time.

"Malay disenchantment with PH-BN, in general, and Umno, in particular, is bound to grow in the coming years. It would be quite impossible for the unity government to prevent this ominous political slide.

"There is a possibility that the unity government might have to take a more right wing political posture to appease the conservatives in PN. If this is going to be the trend, then there is the possibility that the non-Malays might become alienated from the right wing direction.

"As it is, the frustrations with the unity government is growing, especially among certain segments of the non-Malays," he said.

According to Ramasamy, the state elections' results may not have any immediate effect on the unity government, and that the government will continue as per the GE15 electoral mandate.

"But PN might possibly derail the government from addressing its objectives.

"Anwar might be placed in a most unenviable position. A shift of his government in the direction of the appeasement of right wing forces might send the wrong signals to the non-Malays who have given him undivided support," he noted.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/08/942402/green-wave-remains-pn-ultimate-winner-state-elections-ramasamy