PH needs right-wing Malay support, says KJ

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin believes PH can no longer depend on its core supporters to win elections. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH), particularly its lynchpin PKR, will have to win over the right-wing Malays to stay in power, according to former minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy said the coalition, which also comprises the DAP and Amanah, can no longer count on its core supporters to keep them in Putrajaya.

PH has to get Malay parties such as Umno and PAS on its side to hold on to power, he said in the latest episode of the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast.

It was Umno’s support that enabled PH to gain enough seats after the last general elections to form the unity government and for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to be sworn in as prime minister.

PH has traditionally relied on the support of the moderate Malays as well as non-Malays, particularly the Chinese, to win votes.

However, Khairy said, PKR will not be able to win elections now if it continues to depend solely on the same support base.

“They need to woo the right-wing (Malay) supporters of the opposition or they will not even be able to form a unity government,” he said.

Earlier this month, PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad told Malaysiakini that PH should not abandon its ideals and risk losing its core supporters in an attempt to win over those who have voted for Perikatan Nasional (PN).

He pointed out that PH will never be able to “out-Malay” PN.

Khairy said PKR may even lose its core supporters if it fails to implement promised reforms.

“Unfortunately, the party seems to be in the ‘twilight zone’ now,” he said. “Implementing reforms seems to have taken a back seat.”

“The reformist spirit is not the priority at the moment,” he added.