The clashes between DAP and PKR during the Sarawak state polls have spilled over to the peninsula, posing a challenge to the opposition in the coming by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar.

According to political analyst Wong Chin Huat, many voters were disappointed with the clashes between the two opposition allies.

He warned of a low voter turnout in the twin by-elections if the opposition parties fail in seat negotiations and turn hostile against each other.

After putting a lot of efforts to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Wong opined that Pakatan Harapan needed to address its overall vision.

"BN will not expect a swing back from the voters but it wants these people to stay home. This is the lesson Sarawak (polls) has taught us," added the Penang Institute fellow.

Wong (photo) said the issue was now more complicated as Harapan had to deal with the differences between the parties.

Both Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar are the traditional seats contested by Umno and PAS. PAS has expressed its interest to contest while Harapan will discuss if it wants to field its candidates.

At a forum last night, Wong said it would be an easy victory for BN if the opposition parties failed to arrive at a consensus towards a straight fight.

Other speakers were political commentator Phoon Wing Keong and DAP's Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi.

Phoon said: "The people are less passionate about the opposition. They may not support BN, but they will not vote, especially the young voters. This needs to be addressed."

Similar situation may occur in the by-elections, he warned.

Phoon said the people have not been able to cope with the dramatic changes surrounding the opposition pact post-2013 general election.

"The scenario has changed drastically. We had the Kajang by-election, the break-up of Pakatan Rakyat and the PAS-Umno cooperation," he said.

"Many can't comprehend (the need) for the opposition to work with (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, (former deputy prime minister) Muhyiddin Yassin and Perkasa. Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen talked about forming a unity government with PBB to replace SUPP."

Phoon said the past two years have been a mess because the opposition parties were unable to convince their supporters.

Old propaganda methods

Touching on DAP, he criticised the party for its old propaganda methods which were copied by others.

Phoon said DAP needed to put in constructive discourse and policies into its propaganda, instead of making use of Hew Kuan Yau, who is known as 'Superman' among his supporters.

"We were excited to see this five years ago," he said, adding that the party should self-examine such propaganda strategies.

"DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said Hew should rise above gutter language. This is the tipping point. DAP should come out with something creative and new," Phoon added.

Hew is known as 'Superman' for regularly donning a T-shirt of the comic book hero, and appeared during the 2011 Sarawak state polls.

Meanwhile, Shu Qi admitted that Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), which rarely used pendrive in 2011 polls then, now has made full use of the cyber warfare.

She added that DAP has failed to touch on local issues, such as autonomy, education and oil royalty.

"It's too bad that we did not play up the issues well and continuously when the urban voters had faith in the opposition," Shu Qi said.

She said Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem, on the other hand, managed to adopt the strategies initiated by the opposition.

"Adenan just took all the proposals by DAP and made them as his own achievements. This is merely cosmetic but the people think he is a good chief minister," she said.

Sarawak BN won the May 7 state polls with an overwhelming majority by grabbing 72 out of 82 state seats.

PKR managed to defend its three seats, while DAP lost five seats to BN and won only seven.