PETALING JAYA: Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) is unlikely to survive on its own as it is not a force to be reckoned with, said Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
He said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who founded GTA, might be an influence but the alliance was not like Perikatan Nasional, which was a force on its own.
“With the number of Malay parties right now, it is natural for Malay voters to demand a force that unites all Malay parties.”
Ahmad Faizal used an analogy to describe GTA’s situation.
“GTA is like a small cup. You can’t pour everything from a big cup into a small cup,” he said.
“Since Perikatan is the opposing in Parliament, we welcome GTA to support us unconditionally,” he said, urging GTA to work with Perikatan to take on Umno.
“Bersatu is committed to upholding Malay and Muslim rights with a Malaysia for all races and religions. As GTA seemed to champion the same ideals, we welcome GTA to give us their support to get rid of those who have played out Malay voters in the last general election,” he said.
A Negri Sembilan Umno leader, who declined to be named, acknowledged concerns by top Umno leaders about the “attraction” of GTA among the Umno grassroots. “The ideals spelt out by GTA are very much like what Umno had fought for. But at the moment, the political dynamics are different.
“Umno cannot push an agenda like GTA, especially when it is working with multiracial parties,” he added.
Political analysts concurred that GTA was unlikely to emerge as a political force.
“It’s unlikely that GTA will be a force in the state elections. The Malay electorate is fragmented with people supporting Umno, Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan.
“Those who cannot accept Umno-Pakatan will vote for Perikatan or stay home,” said Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb.
Much would also depend on whether Umno could fire up its supporters, he said.
“Those who voted for Perikatan in the last general election will continue to do so. Those who are with Umno but against its alliance with Pakatan may sit out the state election,” said Azmil.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali said GTA might get some Malay votes but the opposition is unlikely to capture non-Malay votes .
“If we look at the Tanjung Piai by-election result several years ago, Chinese voters completely rejected Dr Mahathir’s leadership. And in the last general election, he even lost his Langkawi parliamentary seat,” said Mazlan.
