The Malaysian Insight

BARISAN Nasional (BN) will win the 15th general election (GE15) if it is held this year, said Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.

“If GE15 is called in August or September, BN will definitely have the upper hand. The coalition may not win a two-thirds majority, but possibly a simple majority,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“This is demonstrated in the Malacca and Johor polls.”

The DAP lawmaker said BN was able to win two-thirds majority in both Malacca and Johor because of low voter turnout.

“While the economy is still recovering and borders are gradually reopening, more time is needed before we can get back to pre-pandemic levels.

“As long as costs are still high and people are not used to travelling again, turnout will be affected.”

The last three state elections saw a record low turnout of 65.85%, 54.92% and 60.67% for Malacca, Johor and Sarawak, respectively.

This is a huge drop compared with the average turnout of 82.32% in 2018.

Ong said he hopes GE15 will be held next year.

“This will give Pakatan Harapan (PH) more time to regroup after the DAP and PKR polls.

“It will also let us re-strategise and plan our road shows, fundraisers, etc.”

DAP held its party polls last month and PKR’s is ongoing, with the results to be confirmed next month.

Ong said if GE15 is held next year, it is more likely to end in a hung parliament (where no single party has a simple majority of 112 MPs).

“If the national polls are held next year, it could be optimistic for PH.

“We may not win outright, but a situation where no one wins is much higher. We would be in a better position to negotiate.

“As such, an anti-party hopping law is an important component as it shows that the memorandum of understanding has a larger purpose,” he said, referencing the agreement signed between PH and Putrajaya.

“Passing it (anti-party hopping bill) will also give us an opportunity to negotiate for MOU 2.0.

“I would also say that it is incumbent on PH leaders to provide a new direction in how they want to govern the country.

“This will boost people’s confidence as there will be more substantive plans in place.”

Ong, on Monday, announced that he will not defend his Bangi seat in the next national polls.

He first won the then Serdang seat in 2013, defeating MCA veteran and incumbent Yap Pian Hon with 79,238 votes (67.98%).

Ong defended the Bangi seat, renamed after a delineation exercise, in 2018. He defeated MCA’s Liew Yuen Keong, PAS’ Shafie Ngah and Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Dennis Wan with 102,557 votes (65.6%).

DAP first won the then Serdang seat in 2008, with Teo Nie Ching defeating MCA’s Hoh Hee Lee after claiming 47,444 votes (64.23%). – May 15, 2022.