Muhyiddin's acquittal could lead to slight increase in opposition support, say analysts

SHAH ALAM - Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s acquittal may slightly boost Perikatan’s Nasional (PN) support but unlikely to affect overall government support.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Political Science Association Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has shown he is committed to the separation of powers by not changing the Attorney General (AG) as it means there is no interference.

“However, it increases PN’s support slightly but I don’t think it affects the support for the government,” she said.

Syaza added it brings certain questions about Muhyiddin’s acquittal on why the prosecution was defective in the first place.

She added that the unity government, unlike previous administrations, appears to be operating differently, emphasizing transparency.

Besides, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun said Malaysian politics is all about manipulating perception and narrative, causing Muhyiddin's exoneration rto einforce their narrative that he was wrongly accused.

This, she said would potentially garner more support for the party.

But Oh said Muhyiddin's case could potentially place the unity government or Pakatan Harapan (PH) to demonstrate judicial independence, a result of reforms.

He said the impact will depend on the narrative each party propagates.

“This sort of judicial independence is a result of the reforms, by the unity government and so on, so it depends on what kind of perspective and narrative your party propaganda machinery can put out,” he told Sinar Daily.

Oh added there might not be much room for further decline in Malay support, as most Malays already support PN.

“Most Malays support PN already so there's not much Malay support to dwindle further in the unity government because they don't have a lot of Malay support to begin with," he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) deputy director Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib said as the leader of the opposition any statement from Muhyiddin invites various interpretations.

“He has the right to challenge the PH-BN unity government which he believes is incapable of running the country.

"Diminishing support has already been observed in recent state elections in six states," she said.

The unity government's stability could be at risk if further challenges arise, such as votes of no confidence or coalition withdrawals.

"If the push for Anwar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down through a vote of no confidence or if any coalitions from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) withdraw due to the Ambalat issue, the unity government could collapse," she added.