Bersatu's Sikamat candidate Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz argues that Parti Wawasan Negara's entry into the race may alienate BN and PAS supporters, creating an opportunity for his party in the three-cornered fight for the Negeri Sembilan state assembly seat.
SEREMBAN: Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, Bersatu's information chief and candidate for the Sikamat seat, believes that the decision by Parti Wawasan Negara to contest the constituency may create dissatisfaction among Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS supporters.
This voter discontent, he argues, could provide Bersatu with a competitive edge in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election scheduled for August 1. He described the three-cornered contest in Sikamat as "wide open," attributing the opportunity to a combination of voter frustration with the previous state administration and the internal candidate selection process within the BN-Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance.
He explained that initially BN was expected to contest the seat, but it was subsequently allocated to PAS and then to Parti Wawasan Negara. Tun Faisal cast doubt on Wawasan's local organizational strength, noting that the party likely lacks established branches or divisions in the area and may have to depend on BN and PAS for its election machinery.
He suggested that local BN and PAS members who had hoped to contest the seat themselves might feel disappointed, potentially reducing their enthusiasm for actively campaigning for the coalition's official candidate. Tun Faisal also acknowledged a significant campaign challenge arising from Bersatu's decision to contest under its own party logo instead of the PN logo. He noted that previously voters only needed to be told the party was part of the PN coalition.
Now, the party must undertake a more complex educational effort, explaining that it is President Muhyiddin Yassin's party, identifies as a Malay-Muslim party, and clarify the reasons for contesting separately from the PN alliance. He even pointed to a potential confusion among some voters who might mistakenly associate Bersatu with Pakatan Harapan (PH) due to the similarity in color between the two logos, both featuring red elements.
This strategic shift-a "calculated risk" announced by Muhyiddin-stems from frustration and disappointment with PAS over its cooperation with BN within the PN framework. Historically, Bersatu, formed a decade ago, has never contested any general, state, or by-election under its own banner; this move marks a major departure.
According to Tun Faisal, Bersatu's decision to field candidates in 24 seats across Negeri Sembilan is intended to position the party as a credible third alternative to both the PH coalition and the BN-PN alliance. He also identified a potential vulnerability for PH: the decision by the incumbent Menteri Besar, Aminuddin Harun, to contest a different seat, which forces PH to introduce a new candidate in Sikamat.
In the Sikamat direct contest, Tun Faisal will face PH's Nor Azman Mohamad and PN's Razali Abu Samah. Tun Faisal stated that Bersatu selected Sikamat after evaluating past electoral data and receiving direct feedback from constituents. He reported that the electorate's primary concerns revolve around tangible socioeconomic issues: limited local job opportunities, a shortage of affordable housing, deteriorating ageing infrastructure, and poor maintenance of public facilities. These quality-of-life issues form the core of Bersatu's local campaign messaging in the constituency
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