PETALING JAYA: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s khalwat (close proximity) controversy is unlikely to cost him support among Bersama’s followers, who tend to separate a politician’s private life from his political record, analysts say.
However, the controversy could make it harder for the PKR-splinter party to win over conservative Malays as it seeks to expand its voter base.
“No, it is not the end of his political career,” University of Tasmania academic James Chin told FMT, saying supporters of multiracial parties generally understand the need to separate a politician’s private life from politics.
Chin said several politicians had survived similar controversies previously, citing Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Mohamad Sabu, then a PAS Youth leader, was charged with khalwat in 1995 but was acquitted by the Kelantan shariah court without his defence being called after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. In 2011, he was elected the party’s deputy president.
Chua, on the other hand, resigned from all government and party posts in 2008 after being embroiled in a sex scandal, but staged a political comeback two years later, winning the MCA presidency.
Comebacks, following a controversy, are therefore possible, Chin said.
“A lot depends on which party you come from. You may not be able to come back if you're from PAS, but if you’re from DAP or PKR, it's really not a problem.”
Nik Nazmi, a co-leader of Bersama, confirmed on Saturday that he and a woman were detained by the Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) in Petaling Jaya on Thursday for suspected khalwat.
Following the incident, the former Setiawangsa MP was suspended by his party for three months.
Likewise, Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia agreed that the controversy was unlikely to cause lasting political damage, although such scandals could hurt politicians in the short term, particularly close to an election.
She said sex-related scandals generally trigger greater sensitivities among Malay voters than financial scandals, as they are closely linked to the leader’s “dignity and honour”.
Syaza said the bigger problem for Bersama was attracting new Malay voters rather than losing existing supporters, as the party does not have a large Malay support base to begin with.
“This incident would make it harder for them to win over undecided Malay voters,” she said, adding that retaining their existing support base was unlikely to be much of an issue.
Family plays role in political comeback
Both analysts said Nik Nazmi’s chances of making a comeback would also depend on his family’s response.
Chin says a comeback would be more likely if the former federal minister’s family does not abandon him.
“As long as the family remains silent, and no one talks about it, it will be forgiven,” Syaza said, adding that public support from Nik Nazmi’s wife could go a long way to helping him regain trust.
She said voters are entitled to scrutinise the private conduct of politicians, but should also allow them the opportunity to make amends.
“I think voters will be forgiving, especially if he takes the right steps.”