Lack of broad appeal hampering PN’s search for Anwar successor, say analysts

Analysts have attributed Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) struggle to find a leader who can match Anwar Ibrahim’s charisma as prime minister to its failure to build an image that appeals across racial, ideological and generational divides.

Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya said PN had several experienced leaders whom it could put forward as potential prime ministers, including PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin.

“I see Samsuri and Hamzah as having different leadership strengths. Samsuri projects a technocratic and professional image, backed by his experience administering Terengganu, while Hamzah has experience in federal government administration and national politics.

“However, their main challenge is translating those leadership credentials into a national image that transcends ideological, racial, generational and regional boundaries,” he told FMT.

Anwar, meanwhile, has a track record in national politics, experience in international diplomacy and greater public visibility than other political figures, Tawfik said.

These qualities make it more challenging for opposition figures to establish themselves as potential prime ministers and build a national leadership profile, he added.

“The real issue is not simply who has charisma, but how a leader demonstrates the ability to govern a multiracial country, offer convincing economic solutions and communicate effectively with younger generations,” he said.

Tawfik also said PN needed to agree on the type of leadership identity it wanted to promote, whether based on administrative experience, a technocratic approach or a combination of both.

“Ultimately, I believe a prime ministerial candidate should be assessed not solely on personal popularity, but also on their ability to build an administration team, offer clear policies and earn the trust of people across political divides,” he said.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Anwar’s main advantage was his extensive experience in community work and with NGOs, which began when he was young, long before he entered politics.

He said Anwar’s record of service, and the ups and downs he experienced in politics, had honed his public relations skills, making it difficult for other politicians to match.

“Samsuri and Hamzah were each busy building their early careers as a scientist and an entrepreneur.

“Anwar, on the other hand, had been reaching out to ordinary people from a young age and was willing to build friendships with non-Malay communities.

“His ability to engage with people at the grassroots level in villages and on the international stage without feeling intimidated makes him extremely difficult to challenge in terms of charisma and diplomacy,” he said.

He added that it would take PN a long time to produce a prime ministerial candidate with a similar record of community engagement without the backing of an incumbent government.

Yesterday, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari acknowledged that PN faced a challenge in finding a prime ministerial candidate capable of matching Anwar’s influence for the 16th general election.

The Pasir Mas MP said Anwar had an advantage in his public demeanour and ability to connect with the youth, including at public events.

He cited Anwar’s appearance at the Malaysian MotoGP last week where the prime minister was seen sitting on the grass with the crowd, describing this as an effective way of shaping public image and perception.

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