Survey Shows No Single Coalition Is Likely To Win A Simple Majority In #GE15
A Merdeka Center survey of 1,209 people showed 24% of voters preferred BN, while 26% favoured PH. About 13% supported PN. Nearly a third — or 31% — were undecided or had no preference.
By Reuters — 05 Nov 2022, 10:22 AM
Malaysia's opposing political blocs will need to form an alliance to stand a chance of governing after this month's general election, with none likely to win a simple majority, an opinion poll showed on Friday
There are 21 million Malaysians eligible to vote on 19 November, with opposition leaders Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin competing to unseat a government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri's Barisan Nasional (BN).
The Merdeka Center's 19 to 28 October survey of 1,209 people showed 24% of voters preferred BN, while 26% favoured Anwar's main opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Nearly a third — or 31% — were undecided or had no preference.
About 13% supported Muhyiddin's opposition bloc, Perikatan Nasional (PN), while 2% favoured former premier Mahathir's newly-formed alliance, Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA- Pejuang).
Since the last election in 2018, Malaysia has had three prime ministers as parties governed with razor-thin and unstable majorities
BN lost for the first time in Malaysian history in 2018 following a multi-billion-dollar scandal at state investment fund 1MDB that plagued its ruling UMNO party, which prioritises the interests of the ethnic-Malay majority.
BN is seeing lower-than-expected support among Malays and has not gained significant ground since 2018, Merdeka Center said. The poll showed the economy and inflation were the top concerns of respondents, ahead of political instability and corruption.
"It is possible to imagine that no single coalition will attain a large enough plurality to form a government with just one other party or coalition. Instead, there is a rising possibility that at least three or more parties or coalitions are needed to cooperate to form a government," Merdeka said.
A car is seen behind flags of BN ahead of the upcoming 15th General Election in Bera, Pahang.
Image via Lai Seng Sin/ReutersMalays constitute a majority of Malaysia's voters and are crucial in determining election results, but their vote is now split due to new Malay-centric parties such as those of Muhyiddin and Mahathir
In Malaysia, the party or coalition with a simple majority in parliament wins, even if it does not win the popular vote.
The opposition coalition that took power in 2018 crumbled in just 22 months due to infighting, returning UMNO to the helm as part of another alliance. UMNO is now seeking to strengthen its hold on power.
Ibrahim Suffian, Merdeka Center director, told Reuters there was no clear-cut group with an advantage because politics was too fragmented, with more new players.
"The big question that people have is how many parties does it need to put together a working government?" he said.
People listen to Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's speech during a political gathering, a day before the nomination day.
Image via Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters
