Can Muhyiddin and Mukhriz attract enough supporters on their own?

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Muhyiddin and Mukhriz Likely to Struggle in Attracting Independent Support

Political analysts and observers suggest that Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir would likely face significant challenges in attracting a substantial independent base of supporters. Their best political prospects appear to lie in aligning with existing federal opposition parties rather than attempting to establish a new political platform. The historical performance of splinter parties and the current political landscape in Malaysia indicate that such an endeavour would be impractical and potentially detrimental to their political careers.
Historical Precedent of Splinter Parties

History offers limited success for political entities formed by groups dissatisfied with established parties. Such "splinter parties" often struggle to gain traction because their primary platform revolves around critiquing their former party, rather than presenting a compelling and distinct vision for the nation. For instance, the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP), formed by Onn Jaafar after disagreeing with Umno's policies, and later PAS breakups resulting in Hamin and Berjasa, failed to make a significant impact. Even Semangat 46, an Umno offshoot led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the late 1980s to challenge leadership, eventually disbanded after poor electoral performance, with most members returning to Umno.
Lack of Charisma and Media Support

Beyond historical trends, analysts point to Muhyiddin and Mukhriz's perceived lack of charisma and ability to independently rally supporters. Without the backing of official and Malay media, any new political grouping would be "starved of oxygen," severely limiting its reach and ability to gain public awareness and support. This dependence on media coverage is crucial in the Malaysian political context for disseminating messages and building a constituency, especially for a nascent movement.
Strategic Disadvantage of a New Platform

Forming a new political platform is considered an impractical and disadvantageous move for the former Umno leaders. Opposition parties aiming to challenge the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, typically need to consolidate their support and avoid multi-cornered fights to be effective. Establishing a new party requires considerable time to build its presence and could inadvertently fragment the existing opposition vote, thereby benefiting the incumbent coalition. This was evident in recent by-elections where Barisan Nasional secured victories against fragmented opposition candidates.
Potential Alignment with Existing Opposition

Given these challenges, political observers suggest that Muhyiddin and Mukhriz would have a better chance of political survival and impact by aligning with Pakatan Harapan. They could potentially offer leadership and help consolidate ties among the existing opposition parties, such as DAP, PKR, and Amanah. This approach would allow them to leverage existing political machinery and voter bases, rather than attempting to build one from scratch, which carries a high risk of political marginalisation.

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Can Muhyiddin and Mukhriz attract enough supporters on their own?

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