LETTER | The GE15 election result is a revelation - it has laid naked the race and Islamic-centric influence in the political ecosystem of our nation.

In the Malay heartland, the surge in popular votes in favour of PAS is a clear message that the Malays are moving towards the dreaded inclination to Islamic values. Unfortunately, that wave of preference seems to have captivated even the young Malay voters.

That, in itself, should not be surprising, given the fact that our education system has been infused with a racial and religious orientation, no thanks to such educational approaches moulded by past BN leaders, including Anwar Ibrahim when he was the education minister.

“You reap what you sow” may be an appropriate idiom under the current circumstances.

While the non-Malay voters and the liberal Malays have been consistent in their preference for Pakatan Harapan to govern the country, that has not resonated in the predominantly Malay majority states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.

The reality, therefore, is that Harapan failed to sway the voters in the Malay heartland and, in retrospect, young Malay voters. 

With the perception that young voters would be rooting for change, it is apparent that the opposition failed to touch the pulse of the racial and religious inclinations of young Malay voters.

These voters, having abandoned the Umno/BN bedfellows but were consumed by race-religious-centric favouritism, were left with the only option that was available - the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, where PAS has emerged as the dominant party.

Whilst the political entities are jostling to obtain the numbers to form the government, it would be a tragedy if the PN coalition gains traction to govern the country for the next five years.

PAS, with its commanding majority in the PN-based government, would be expected to pursue its pro-Islamic agenda - however subtle it may be.

Such a situation would, invariably, drive away investment and, as a consequence, greatly impact our already fragile economy. 

2023, according to economic assessments, is expected to be challenging in terms of inflation, geopolitics and recession, which can only be mitigated by a government that is committed to facing such challenges, regardless of its political idealism.

To drive our economy, creating jobs and uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the people ought to be the utmost consideration of our politicians, the polemics of partisan politics notwithstanding.

My simplistic view.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.