PETALING JAYA: Zaid Ibrahim speculates that a strong showing by Pakatan Harapan parties in peninsula Malaysia in the next general election (GE14) could see a deal being made between the opposition and Barisan Nasional components in Sabah and Sarawak.
The former minister under the Abdullah Badawi administration, said that this scenario was possible should PH parties – DAP, PKR, Amanah and PPBM – increase the number of seats in peninsula Malaysia from the current 63 to at least 95.
He said this in response to strategists who say that BN will continue to have control of the federal government with its vast majority – 46 out of the 56 seats – of the parliamentary seats in Sabah (21) and Sarawak (25).
“If PH capture more seats than the BN in the peninsula, which by my calculations should be 95, then why would East Malaysians favour Najib? They won’t. They will deal for sure.
“Also, it’s naïve to think that PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has no plans at all for East Malaysia. Chances are his plans are already well-entrenched, and that they focus on more than just (Warisan president) Shafie Apdal,” Zaid said in a blog post today.
He added that this should give Umno ministers and parliamentarians some food for thought.
“Maybe they should keep their options open.”
Zaid also praised the former prime minister for bringing Malays together by forming PPBM.
“His pitch was simple: ‘We in PPBM will protect Malay interests better than Najib has’. That has not been difficult to sell.
“Look at what’s been happening with Felda, Felcra and Mara. Look at the loss of Bumiputera lands in Johor,” he said, adding that PPBM has proved to be an alternative to dissatisfied Umno members.
Zaid, who joined DAP last year, also took aim at the call to “save Umno”.
“In GE14, the rallying cry is for Malays to save Umno, when the real issue is how to save their jobs, their mortgages and their land.”
The last possible date for GE14 is Aug 24, that is 60 days from June 24, which is the date when Parliament automatically dissolves having completed a five-year term. Najib has the prerogative to dissolve Parliament anytime before June.
Sumber Zaid: Sarawak and Sabah, kingmakers in GE14?
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