GE15: Risks await PH-led states to hold polls if BN wins

SHAH ALAM - The 15th General Election (GE15) is just around the corner and the competition between coalitions to rule Putrajaya is getting more intense.

All coalitions and parties have started campaigning and getting closer with the voters to gain their trust and votes for the upcoming election.

However, as the previous federal government, Barisan Nasional (BN) seemed to have the upper hand as the Parliament was dissolved right after the tabling of the 2023 Budget which was viewed as "early” campaigning.

Political analysts shared similar views on the risks awaiting the opposition especially Pakatan Harapan (PH) to hold state polls next year if Barisan Nasional (BN) gained victory in GE15.

Professor Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said BN could focus on a few states and use their access to the federal government resources.

"The move to hold the state elections separately from Parliament does have some risks and it would give BN some advantages by being able to focus on just a few states and to use its access to federal government resources.

"However it gives PH and Pas time to prepare and call for elections at a time of their choice,” he said.

Shamsul added that as the parties were there (at the states) for over 15 years, some of the states were capable of mobilising their own support.

Meanwhile, political analyst Ibrahim Suffian also agreed that it will be risky for the PH-led states if BN gained victory in GE15.

"It will be very risky indeed because they have to face the might of BN’s federal machinery and money.

"BN can take things for granted. They still have to campaign and woo the voters,” he said.

Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Azmi Hassan said there were advantages and disadvantages in dissolving the state assembly concurrently with the Parliament.

He agreed that PH will be facing difficulties if BN had won in GE15 as there was a perception that BN was currently holding the federal government.

"Nevertheless, for the PH and Pas-led states that have not been dissolved, they can use all machineries and resources to help with their campaign.

"These are the advantages of PH and Pas. So, there are plus and minus sides of not dissolving the state assembly,” he said.