The party, now reduced to 29 seats in Parliament, continues to struggle to expand its appeal beyond Anwar’s personal base.
PKR’s ally Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), which offers itself as a moderate Islamic alternative to PAS, only has eight MPs and has largely failed to establish a distinct constituency among ordinary Malaysians.
Only the ethnic Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP) remains resilient within the PH coalition. With 40 seats in the lower house and deep historical loyalty among Chinese voters, it remains a force in urban and semi-urban constituencies concentrated in areas with sizeable non-Malay populations.
NEW CRUCIBLE FOR A NATIONAL ELECTORAL MAP
With a combined total of 34 parliamentary constituencies, Johor and Negeri Sembilan states account for just over 15 per cent of the total number of seats in the 222-member lower house.
But the upcoming contests in the 56 state seats in Johor and another 36 seats in Negeri Sembilan are more than just state elections. They are fast shaping up into a crucible in which Malaysia’s political future is being forged.
Should UMNO, PAS and the breakaway Bersatu faction led by Hamzah forge an electoral pact in the upcoming state polls, UMNO and its allies in BN could inflict serious hurt for PKR and Amanah.
PKR, widely considered as the nominal anchor of the PH coalition, holds one state seat in Johor and five seats in Negeri Sembilan, while Amanah holds one seat in each state.
