Mahkota polls: Muhyiddin, Lau wary but PAS in denial - Puad

Following Umno’s triumph in the Mahkota polls, party supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi chided PAS for still being in denial over Perikatan Nasional’s decline.

“Looks like (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin (Yassin) is a gentleman. He accepted Mahkota’s results with an open heart and said he would work to improve his party.

“Gerakan president (Dominic Lau) was more open. He expressed concerns about Malay voters returning to the Umno fold - both in Nenggiri and Mahkota.

“But a PAS leader told Harakahdaily that the defeat in Mahkota won’t affect PN at the national level.

“PAS suffers from a denial syndrome. Perhaps, it thinks the results only affect Bersatu but the Islamist party itself got trounced in Nenggiri,” Puad said on Facebook today.

On Saturday, BN’s Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah won the Johor state seat in style, winning with a 20,648-vote majority after obtaining 27,995 votes compared to PN’s Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, who only got 7,347.

Following the defeat, Muhyiddin urged his party members to accept it, adding PN’s spirit would not be broken and the coalition would keep fighting.

Lau, on the other hand, urged PN to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the trend of Malay votes shifting towards Umno.

“This is not about underestimating ourselves, but we need to reassess our strategies, reflect on future developments, and strengthen cooperation and rapport among coalition parties.

“Since the other side can put aside past grudges and cooperate, PN must do even better,” he was reported as saying.

Lau added that the cooperation of BN and Pakatan Harapan proved effective in Mahkota, and if that alliance continues until the next general election, it could shift the political landscape.

While top leaders from PAS have yet to comment on the defeat, Selayang PAS deputy youth chief Taufiq Dahlan told Harakahdaily yesterday that the loss did not reflect PN’s actual strength.

Signs from voters?

Elaborating on Lau’s point about BN and Harapan’s partnership, Puad said if Umno could prove to the masses that its ties with DAP won’t affect the position of Malays and Islam – with Harapan taking a balanced approach - the federal government could become stronger.

“A strong unity government would reduce 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues being played up, posing a threat to PN.

“So, are voters giving us that signal using the Nenggiri and Mahkota polls for us to ponder as we head towards the 16th general election?” the Johor state assembly speaker asked.

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