Shed opposition leader role, focus on PM-ship, Anwar told post-polls

An analyst says the drop in support for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition witnessed at the recent polls is due in part to Anwar Ibrahim still behaving like an opposition leader instead of a prime minister. 

Hisommudin Bakar said throughout the campaign period, Anwar had occupied himself with politicking and attacks on federal opposition pact Perikatan Nasional (PN), as if he were still playing his old role. 

Hisommudin, the executive director of think tank Ilham Center, said this had caused disappointment, especially among the Malay voters who believed that Anwar was not focused on solving the problems of the people. 

"His attention should have been on economic recovery rather than going down to the ground to campaign as though he were still the opposition leader," he said. 

The state elections on Aug 12 resulted in the status quo, with PH and BN retaining Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, and PN defending Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. 

In the prize state of Selangor, however, the PH-BN alliance lost its two-thirds majority in the legislative assembly with PN winning 22 of the 56 seats.

PN also won 11 seats in Penang and five in Negeri Sembilan, while increasing its majority in the states previously under its control with a clean sweep of all 32 seats in Terengganu.

Hisommudin said Anwar and his government should have immediately focused on implementing the promises made at the 15th general election last year.

"Hopes were high that he would bring down the cost of living," he said. 

"But he was seen as too engrossed in politics, appearing on stage and sending out hard messages as though he were still leading the opposition.

"So his focus after this will be quite challenging."
 
Analyst Azmi Hassan meanwhile said that Anwar and his PH-BN pact had been too aggressive in their campaign. 

Azmi, of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said this had led to the perception of Anwar being overly focused on his political agenda rather than issues such as the economy and cost of living.

"The prime minister should demonstrate his commitment, which is to govern the country and solve the problems of the people," he said.

"Anwar only has one job: to carry out his duties as the prime minister." 

Political analyst Azmil Tayeb however said that Anwar's failure to muster the support of the Malays was not a question of diminishing influence. 

Rather, he said, Anwar had failed to win over the voters. 

"Anwar is someone who is either liked or disliked," Azmil, of Universiti Sains Malaysia, said.

"So for me, this was a failure to persuade those who dislike him to support him and PH-BN."