Umno must balance principles and electoral strategy in Melaka, says analyst

Umno must balance between taking a principled stand on seeking alliances and its pursuit of its overall electoral strategy, a political analyst said following Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh’s rejection of any potential tie-up between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan in Melaka.

Global Asia Consulting analyst Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri said Akmal’s refusal to defend his Merlimau state assembly seat if the two coalitions cooperate was a test of Umno’s willingness to compromise.

He said Akmal’s rejection was grounded in the views of some Umno grassroots members who remain uncomfortable with cooperation between BN and PH.

“However, politics is not merely a matter of emotion. Principles will win you applause, but strategy will determine victory,” he told FMT.

Political analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff agreed, saying an important consideration for Umno and BN was whether they could retain core supporters and attract fence-sitters.

He said Akmal’s statement also showed that he was highly confident a BN-PH tie-up in Melaka was unlikely. “He is staking his seat on his principles,” he said.

On Aug 18, Akmal said he would not defend his seat to remain true to his political principles, in response to speculation that BN and PH could hold talks on cooperation in the coming state election.

Zaharuddin said that while a possible BN-PH tie-up made sense from the standpoint of electoral calculations, it risked driving disgruntled Umno supporters to Perikatan Nasional instead.

However, Afifi Abdul Razak of Universiti Utara Malaysia said that while Akmal’s absence from the election could have a moderate effect on BN’s influence among the state’s young voters, it would not necessarily affect BN’s chances of victory in Melaka.

He said Umno and BN’s strength in Melaka was not dependent on any individual, but on the strength of their machinery and candidates as well as broader political developments.

Afifi recognised Akmal’s stance as a principled “sacrifice” that could bear fruit in the long term. “Akmal’s political career may be damaged in the short term, but a principled sacrifice such as this could benefit him politically in the long term,” he said.