PETALING JAYA: Bersama is getting ready to face PKR in four state seats in Johor.
The party led by former PKR leaders Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad is expected to face candidates from their former party in Bukit Naning, Puteri Wangsa, Bukit Batu and Kempas.
Pundits say the race in Puteri Wangsa is one to watch as Pakatan will be fielding former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik while incumbent Muda will field Rashifa Aljunied.
In 2022, Muda’s Amira Aisya Abd Aziz won the seat by securing a 7,114-vote majority in a six-cornered contest.
“In the 2022 Johor election, the seat was won by a Muda candidate, who was at that time aligned with Pakatan Harapan.
“Demographic factors, together with past voting patterns, make Puteri Wangsa one of the constituencies that can be regarded as a key target seat for Pakatan,” said Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar, who added that Pakatan’s decision to field Maszlee demonstrates its priority in winning the seat.
“At the same time, Bersama appears to be attempting to capitalise on dissatisfaction among a segment of urban and non-Malay voters with the performance of the unity government,” he said.
This is particularly in relation to issues of reform, the rising cost of living and unmet expectations.
He said Bersama’s challenge lies with building a strong electoral base in such a short time, therefore limiting its chances of winning.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Bukit Batu may be one of the constituencies that Bersama could look to draw support from its former PKR network and voters who are familiar with Rafizi’s leadership.
However, he said Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s exit from PKR may not necessarily translate into a shift of support base as a significant proportion of voters continue to cast their ballots based on the Pakatan logo and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.
“Bersama’s prospects of achieving a major electoral breakthrough are slim.
“While the possibility of winning a single seat remains open, its chances of splitting the votes of Pakatan and Muda are considerably higher than its chances of a significant win,” he said.
The Johor election will therefore serve as a crucial test of whether Bersama is genuinely a grassroots political movement with growing public support, or whether it remains a political project that is strong in terms of leadership but has yet to establish deep roots on the ground, he added.
Pakatan is fielding Md Ysahrudin Kusni in Bukit Naning, with PKR youth vice-chief Muhammad Faezuddin Mohd Puad contesting in Kempas, while incumbent Arthur Chiong Sen Sern will be defending his Bukit Batu seat.
Bersama, which has yet to announce its candidates, will contest 15 seats while Pakatan is contesting all seats in Johor.
