MCA, MIC's decision to sit out of polls will have no impact on BN, say analysts

SHAH ALAM - MCA and MIC's decision to sit out at the upcoming state polls will not have much impact on the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition as these parties have been struggling for some time now, say analysts.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Political Science Association Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said both parties should use this opportunity to carefully strategise and plan their path forward.

“We know MCA and MIC have been struggling and it is best for them to regroup and figure a path forward.

“They are still part of BN and now at least there won’t be much issue with DAP,” she told Sinar Daily.

She said their supporters are likely to favour the BN-Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance over Perikatan Nasional (PN) or may choose not to vote at all.

Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said MCA does not have any state seats while MIC only has one in Negeri Sembilan.

“Basically, if MCA wants to contest or MIC wants to contest more than one seat on the seats they won, the quota must come from BN which is very unlikely.

“I say it is unlikely because according to the 15th general election (GE15) data, the two MCA and MIC Parliamentary seats were won on the support of Umno supporters and not from any Chinese voters or Indian voters,” he said.

Pacific Research Center principal adviser Oh Ei Sun further commented that Umno has always been the dominant force within BN, with other component parties serving more as symbolic entities.

“So it doesn’t quite matter that they decided not to contest as their chances of winning are low anyway.

“BN will remain as long as it still has plenty of party assets accumulated over the years.

“MCA and MIC supporters have largely shifted, perhaps Umno still has sizable core supporters,” he said.