PETALING JAYA: State elections and by-elections in the past reveal that Pakatan Harapan is weakening and Barisan Nasional has not become stronger as its support remains the same, says Parti Keadilan Rakyat Deputy President Mohd Rafizi Ramli.

Despite delivering impressive results in by-elections and state elections, BN’s support has remained at 41% and 42%, the same as in the last general election, he said.

“Voters should not be blamed. Pakatan is weak and a clear picture is not painted for the coalition.

“We wish to deliver and convince the voters to give us a second chance,” Rafizi told Sin Chew Daily in an exclusive interview at PKR headquarters.

Through a new campaign strategy which includes enhancing the process of screening election candidates and field more fresh faces, Rafizi said these measures should convince sufficient number of voters to give PH a second chance.

Rafizi said voters did not return to BN substantially as its support level remained at between 41% and 42%, the same as in the last election.

“We hope to motivate fence-sitters, urban voters and Malay voters to support us.

“We understand that we have been preceived as too eager to return to Putrajaya. Malaysians of all races – Chinese, Malays and Indians – feel that PH is getting further from what they want. We are seen as arrogant and adamant in winning back power,” he said.

People voted for PH in 2018 hoping the coalition would speak for them and take good care of welfare matters.

In the past two years, from the movement control order to flash floods, PH seemed to be lost in the power game.

“If these are the reasons people feel that PH is moving away from them, the solution is easy: to be with the people and focus on the people,” he asserted.

70% voter turnout is crucial

Rafizi is confident that if the voter turnout could reach 70%, with 5% to 6% more Malay votes and support from fence-sitters, PH could clinch at least a hundred parliamentary seats.

“Currently, PH can only secure over 80 seats. We need another 30 plus seats to form a government.

“To achieve this, we would need to negotiate with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) or Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). That is a little tough,” he admitted.

PH should seize the opportunity to increase the number of winning seats from 80 to over 90. By narrowing the gap, the government would be in a stable position.

On Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as PH’s choice for prime minister, Rafizi said that was part of the coalition’s deal to return to Putrajaya.

He insisted that one should not be wasting too much time over this issue, as Anwar is like a cohesive that binds all opposition parties into the alliance we have today.

PH will be closer to Putrajaya if it secures 30% of Malay votes nationwide, and will be firmly in power if it manages more than 35% of Malay votes, Rafizi concluded.