00:00Wawasan's strong debut in the Negeri Semilan election shows the party can win support in its own right,
00:06despite having only seven weeks to build its party structure and identity.
00:11The party won three of the four seats it contested under the Perikatan National banner,
00:17backed by the coalition's machinery and networks linked to former Besatu leaders aligned with Hamzah Zainuddin.
00:24Its biggest victory came in Gemass where incumbent Ridzwan Ahmad defeated Bersatus Azman Abdullah
00:31and Pakatan Harapan's Siti Aisyah Seman with a 12,624-vote majority.
00:38Wawasan also won Klawang through Dani Rais, who defeated PHS Bakri Sawir by 1,317 votes,
00:46and Sikamat through Razali Abu Sama, who beat PH's Nur Azman Mohamad by 4,413 votes.
00:54The results gave immediate electoral legitimacy to the party formed after Hamzah and several leaders left Bersatu,
01:02following an internal leadership dispute.
01:05Wawasan's performance is also expected to raise questions over Bersatu's future role in PN,
01:12after Muhyiddin Yassin's party failed to win any of the 24 seats it contested.
01:18Hamzah has since taken a swipe at Bersatu,
01:21saying the party should stay out of elections and is no longer relevant in Malaysia's political landscape.
01:28However, Bersatu President Muhyiddin and Secretary General Azmin Ali have rejected calls to disband the party.
01:34The question now is whether Wawasan can turn its strong electoral debut into lasting influence within PN and beyond.
01:43Hanyu Jo, FMT
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