“Royal pardon for Najib, part ways with UMNO”: KJ outlines Anwar’s options moving for

[superadmin]

THE most important detail to emerge from last weekend’s six state elections is that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, through the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance, had lost more ground among Malay voters.

According to the former UMNO Youth chief, the recent state polls have ended in a stalemate, at least on the surface, with the PH chairman facing “twin dilemmas” which will “shape Malaysian politics for the next few years”.

“His first dilemma is ideological. Will he stay true to his progressive and reformist platform or will he continue to push back against Perikatan Nasional by introducing more conservative policies?” Khairy wrote in an article on Singaporean portal Fulcrum.

“His base has reacted to the election results by urging Anwar to stop pandering to the ‘Malay right’ and focus on growing the economy, introducing reforms and championing multiculturalism.

“But with such a strong rebuke from Malay voters yet again, Anwar could be tempted to play it both ways: continue with ethnocentric overtures and programmes, and at the same time, hope the economy improves for ordinary Malaysians.”

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