PETALING JAYA: A hung parliament is highly possible, says local analyst Tang Ah Chai.

The three main coalitions – Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional – are likely to negotiate for a joint government after the election.

Tang told Sin Chew Daily as long as two coalitions are able to secure more than 112 seats, a joint government can be formed.

Perikatan Nasional appears to be weaker than Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, he said.

Based on the current scenario, there will be many possibilities for a joint government, he said, adding that Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is one of them.

GPS and Barisan Nasional collaborated during the Barisan Nasional era, he said.

GPS is not in favor of Pakatan Harapan, especially DAP. If GPS has a choice, it would not want to form a joint government with Pakatan Harapan, said Tang.

In the past, political parties in East Malaysia were aligned to the winning team. It would not collaborate if there were uncertainties, he said.

Based on his observation, Tang said the heads of coalitions would start exploring possibilities of working together by contacting one another in private.

Leaders of coalitions have also hinted to voters the possibility of forming alliances.

“This is like a vaccination injection that in the event a coalition has to form an alliance with its opponents, voters would not feel ‘betrayed,’” he said.

“All political leaders have in fact kept their options open. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has not ruled out the possibility of working with Umno.

So, it will not come as a shock to anyone if the collaboration eventually takes place,” he said.