Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Zahid poised for PM role if BN-led coalition wins GE16
Former DAP parliamentarian predicts BN chairman Zahid Hamidi will secure the prime minister's post in the event of a coalition victory in the 16th general election, despite potential seat gains by PAS.
LSN Malaysia ·
Political analyst and former opposition lawmaker Ong Tee Keat has forecast that Zahid Hamidi, chairman of Barisan Nasional, will be positioned as the next prime minister should the coalition secure majority support in the upcoming general election.
Ong's projection comes on the assumption that even if PAS emerges with a larger number of parliamentary seats in a BN-led coalition victory, other significant partners would rally behind Zahid for the top position. The analyst cited GPS and GRS—the major coalitions representing Sarawak and Sabah respectively—as crucial kingmakers in such a scenario.
"The numbers suggest that while PAS might win more seats individually, the combined support of GPS and GRS would be sufficient to ensure Zahid's appointment as prime minister," the political observer noted, underscoring the complex arithmetic of Malaysia's multi-party parliamentary system.
The projection reflects ongoing speculation about power-sharing arrangements among opposition coalitions ahead of the general election, where seat distribution and coalition negotiations will ultimately determine the composition of the next government.