Malaysia: Daim’s crystal ball shows stronger PAS in GE15, Bersatu, Pejuang ‘finished’

• Veteran politician Daim Zainuddin expects PAS to perform better in the coming 15th general election due to disunity in BN and Pakatan Harapan.
• The former finance minister said Harapan allies risk losing some seats they won in 2018, while splinter parties such as Bersatu and Pejuang may not even survive GE15.
• Daim cautioned a bleak future for Harapan if it declines to make changes and remains divided.
• “Even until today, they have not changed. The opposition is divided. And this will continue for 10 years if we are not careful,” said Daim.
• Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is facing mounting pressure from his party, particularly from the faction aligned with president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to dissolve Parliament and pave way for GE15.
• However, the opposition parties have yet to achieve consensus on whether to approach the polls with a “big tent”.
• Meanwhile, Daim said Malay voters, especially the older demographic, may vote for PAS instead due to the disunity in BN and Harapan.
• He also noted that Malay voters in the heartlands of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang are more likely to vote for conservative parties.
• “As the Malays get older, they will begin to think of Allah and how PAS is their salvation,” added Daim.
• However, the 84-year-old Kedah native said PAS has changed after tasting power as part of a ruling coalition and is unlike the Islamist party he knew during the 1960s.
• “I’m still close to them but I say no (to them taking over the country). That’s why we need a new generation,” he said.
• Daim also believes that Umno will be able to win more than half of the 165 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia.
• “Some Umno analysts believe they can win up to 85 seats. But that means they will need Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

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