“What Will PBM Bring To The Table If BN Accepts Its Application?” – Analysts Doubt BN Needs PBM In GE15

PBM president Larry Sng said that the party will run in GE15 using its own logo after its request to join BN was denied by the coalition.

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Parti Bangsa Malaysia’s (PBM) apparent lack of strength may be the main reason Barisan Nasional (BN) has decided against accepting the party’s application to join the coalition.

Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said that it was hard to gauge PBM’s real strength as the party is still new.

“Their only strength at the moment comes from elected lawmakers who jumped ship from another party into PBM so it is hard to analyse the party’s grassroots strength,” Azmi said in a WhatsApp reply to TRP.

He added that BN too had previously said that it wouldn’t meddle with Sarawak’s politics, which would create another problem if the former ruling coalition were to accept PBM into its fold.

“BN policy clearly states that the party wouldn’t interfere in Sarawak political affairs so where would PBM president Datuk Larry Sng, who is the incumbent Julau MP (a parliamentary constituency in Sarawak) stand in the upcoming election?

“So at the end of the day, the decision not to accept PBM as its component party gives BN less headache than accepting them into its fold. Also, what does PBM bring to the table if it is accepted?”

Yesterday, Sng wrote on his Facebook that the party will run in GE15 using its own logo after their request to join BN was denied by the coalition – and that he would defend his Julau seat in the upcoming general election.

He also stated that it is important for PBM, which has its roots originating from Sabah and Sarawak to continue to be the voice and represent the people of East Malaysia.

PBM was re-branded from the Sarawak Workers Party in November last year. It is largely made up of former PKR leaders and had six elected MPs in the last Parliament before it was dissolved on 10 October.

Meanwhile, sharing the same sentiment with Azmi, political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Sidek said that BN’s decision not to accept PBM means fewer problems for the coalition if they formed the Federal government post GE15.

“A party chief would normally command a ministerial post so now BN would not have to appoint ministers among PBM ranks (if they win GE15),” he said, adding that it was probably a good decision by BN.

He said that the “blue waves” is soaring high at the moment, referring to BN’s colours, especially after securing thumping victories in the Melaka and Johor state polls, post-GE14.

Sabah and Sarawak also had their state polls after GE14, with victories for BN-friendly coalitions; Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), respectively.

He however said that UMNO, the undoubted backbone of BN, should remember that these victories were recorded while PAS were together with them under the Muafakat Nasional (MN) chapter.

“PAS has decided to be with Perikatan Nasional (PN) so UMNO must be cautious of that. But I still think BN has the advantage. The rakyat rejects political frogs so there goes the support for PN while the support of the Malays for Pakatan Harapan (PH) appears to wane due to their rejection of DAP,” he added.

Abdul Halim, however, said that no single party can form the government alone, as seen worldwide, and that BN too would still need support from others to form the next Federal government.

Aside from Friends of BN which is made up of Makkal Sakti, Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), Malaysian Indian Progressive Front (IPF), Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (KIMMA), Malaysian Indian United Party (MUIP), and Parti Punjabi Malaysia (PPM), BN’s other allies include GPS.

GPS, made up of PBB, PRS, PDP and SUPP, was formerly part of BN but broke away to form its own coalition after the 2018 general election.

In the 2021 Sarawak state poll, GPS won 75 seats out of the total 82 seats in the Sarawak state assembly, forming the State government with a two-thirds majority.

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