BARISAN Nasional supporters in Tanjung Piai are confident that the by-election next month is theirs for the taking, but are split over which component should face Pakatan Harapan.

Malay voters feel the time is right for a candidate from the community after an apparent resurgence in support for Umno, which last month inked a charter to work with long-time nemesis PAS.

However, BN’s Chinese supporters insist that the candidate must be from MCA, which had contested the seat since it was created in 2004.

The Malaysian Insight visited the area set to be a battleground between PH and BN, and spoke to a cross-section of constituents.

Nomination will be on November 2, and polling on November 16.

In Kg Pengkalan near Pekan Nanas, Raja Shuib Parman summed up the mood on which BN party should field a candidate.

“This area is Malay-majority, so let a Malay candidate run,” said the 55-year-old.

He said when Tg Piai was in BN hands, its MP, Wee Jeck Seng, sidelined the Malay community.

“Help or aid came to us only during the fasting month. That was when they gave us rice and dates. Other times, there was nothing.

“If BN fields an Umno candidate, I say they can win, because they lost by only 500 votes the last time,” said Shuib, adding that the Umno-PAS charter will only unite the Malay vote bank.

Wee lost to PH’s Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, of Bersatu, by 524 votes in the 14th general election. In GE13, the MCA man won Tg Piai with a 5,457-vote majority.

Tg Piai has 52,986 registered voters, with 26,565 in the Kukup state constituency and 26,421 in Pekan Nenas. The federal seat comprises 57% Malays, Chinese (42%) and Indians (1%).

Anwar Sarip from Kg Parit Selangor feels that a Malay MP will be better able to serve village folk.

“If possible, we want a Malay candidate to run because MCA held the seat for a long time,” said the 38-year-old.

Chinese voters want Wee

Many Chinese voters in Kukup and Pekan Nenas want Wee to have another go at the seat.

The Chinese polled said they believe Wee is the best candidate, having proven himself as a capable leader since winning GE12 in 2008 till he lost Tg Piai last year.

They said the Tg Piai MCA division head served the constituency well.

“This time, I’ll vote for Wee if BN fields him. I’m a PH supporter, but if Wee runs, I’ll vote for him,” said Kukup resident Ee Long Chin, adding that poor service by the late Farid prompted his change in support.

Another resident, who gave his name only as Ah Huat, and who runs a food business in Pekan Nanas, said Wee’s service to the community was felt after his defeat.

“When Wee was representing… every three months, he would give aid to the poor, donations to charitable organisations. He would also give rice, cooking oil and more to poor residents,” said the 50-year-old.

Such gestures were a relief to the needy, he said, and after Wee lost, there was a void.

“When he lost, the poor stopped receiving help. The PH MP never saw what he (Wee) had done and did not provide similar aid.”

PH’s failure to manage image

Amy was one of the main drivers who helped PH get youth’s votes in Kukup last year. The 35-year-old had followed Farid on his campaign trail and canvassed local youth to support the pact.

The situation has somewhat changed for Amy, who said the new government has left her disappointed.

“I have washed my hands (of PH), I’m disappointed with the current administration. My purpose in GE14 was to go against a government that had neglected us for 60 years.

“The new government has been in power for less than two years, and they are already like BN.”

Her disappointment stems from the failure of the PH leadership to fulfil most of its election promises.

A senior citizen, who identified himself only as Chuan, 75, from Pekan Nenas, said PH has failed to manage the economy, with people at the bottom feeling the pinch.

“The price of palm oil is now RM300 a tonne. How to live? Straight after GE14, the price went down. How has the government helped?

“Although Wee wasn’t the MP any more, he would come down once in a while to help us. Where is the government now? After they won GE14, they disappeared.”

A DAP representative in Kukup said PH faces an uphill battle to regain its GE14 support.

“In Kukup alone, there are many unresolved issues. Poor Malay fishermen aged 40 and above make up 70% of the community in Kukup. Most are struggling to make ends meet,” said the rep, who wanted to be known only as Ah Sang.

“Those in their 30s and 40s are the most stubborn. They are on the fence, and a lot of them have not obtained their fishing licence from the Fisheries Department.”

Ah Sang said MCA’s habit of taking care of charitable organisations and Chinese associations will make it difficult for PH to capture votes this time around.

“For a long time, MCA has been giving assistance to residents’ associations, civil society organisations and religious groups.

“In DAP, the top leadership forbids the mixing of politics with religion and the community, which is why Wee is getting support.” – October 23, 2019.