Referendum for BN-PH in face-off with PN at state polls

Less than a year into the administration of the coalition government, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing his biggest challenge yet: the elections in six states today, widely seen as a referendum on the public approval of him and his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition which is working with Barisan Nasional (BN) at the federal level. 

Much of the focus is on Selangor, Malaysia's richest state where federal opposition pact Perikatan Nasional (PN) gained ground in multiple parliamentary constituencies during the 15th general election (GE15) last year.  

There, a total of 56 seats in the state legislative assembly are up for grabs, the results of which will determine whether the current government led by Amirudin Shari retains power or transitions to a new leadership. 

While the focus of state elections is traditionally on local issues, a number of dynamics at the national level are expected to come into play, including the extent to which the support of BN voters will transfer to candidates from its long-time foe PH. 

Reports from the grassroots level have indicated a reluctance among BN supporters, particularly from the Umno camp, to rally behind their chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's decision to work with PH. 

And while analysts predict no major change in non-Malay support for PH, it, too, has been dealing with several issues since coming to power last year, including internal strife in Penang DAP and dissatisfaction over its cooperation with BN which it criticised heavily at past elections for corruption and bad governance. 

The election foray by youth-based party Muda which, for the first time, is working with Parti Sosialis Malaysia instead of PH, is also expected to split the non-Malay vote to some extent.  

Leadership

Both BN-PH and PN have been working to promote their leaders in the run-up to the polls, with Anwar's government holding open houses in election-facing states as early as April this year. 

The prime minister has also been featured in billboards throughout the country, and had zig-zagged across the states of Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan throughout the campaign period, often on a government helicopter. 

He also unveiled what critics labelled as "sweeteners" for civil servants ahead of the elections, including a special appreciation aid of RM300 for civil servants of Grade 56 and below and a similar aid of RM200 to pensioners.

On the PN side, meanwhile, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has emerged as a central figure, gaining further prominence after his sedition charges and his take on Anwar's iconic raised fist salute. 

Sanusi, PN's election director, has clashed with federal leaders such as Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail over issues such as the Kulim International Airport project and the mining of rare earth elements in Kedah. 

He remains a highly popular figure in the state – one of three under PN administration which the PH-BN alliance is seeking to wrest. 

Controversies and manifestos

In Selangor, several controversies have cropped up of late including the East Coast Rail Link project in Gombak, a district linked to menteri besar Amirudin who is looking to defend his Sungai Tua seat at the state election. 

Amirudin has also been entangled in the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project, an RM10 billion endeavour spanning 600 acres along the Klang River which could be given to private developers. 

To counter the "PN wave", Amirudin introduced the "Arus Merah Kuning" or "red and yellow flow" catchphrase to symbolise his branding in the state. 

Under the leadership of Selangor PN chairman Mohamed Azmin Ali, meanwhile, PN has been mobilising efforts to wrest control over the state which has been ruled by PH since 2008. 

PN is looking to win at least 33 seats in Selangor, and recently unveiled an RM2 billion economic stimulus package for voters in the state. 

Legal battles

Apart from national and local concerns, the build-up to the elections has also been marked by legal battles between the leaders of the two competing sides. 

Anwar took legal action against former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin in late July, while the PN chairman sued Anwar over the Felda debt disposal issue.

Meanwhile, Sanusi has filed a defamation lawsuit against home minister Saifuddin over the Kedah rare earth minerals issue and the alleged misallocation of Malaysian Road Records Information System funds.

Sanusi himself is facing lawsuits from Amirudin and business tycoon Vincent Tan over remarks on the SMG project.

Amirudin is being sued by political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, popularly known as Chegubard, after claiming that he could be bought. 

And DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has filed a defamation lawsuit against Azmin for describing him as "arrogant" during his tenure as finance minister. 

A total of 572 candidates will be vying for 245 state assembly seats as well as the parliamentary seat of Kuala Terengganu.