AS official campaigning picks up in Tg Piai, Pakatan Harapan officials are worried that a swing in Chinese support, its biggest vote bank, will cost them the by-election.
PH campaign officials are working overtime to contain the loss in support, which could go up to 15% due to national policies on education and economic issues.
The drop could either be in the form of votes going from PH to opposition parties MCA or Gerakan, or through the decision not to vote at all, the officials told The Malaysian Insight.
For those in the Chinese-majority Pekan Nenas, a town where most are involved in the palm oil industry, they are upset over the commodity’s decline in prices.
Others, meanwhile, are not happy with how PH handled the issue of teaching khat to primary four vernacular school pupils.
Another reason is the popularity of opposition candidate Wee Jeck Seng of Barisan Nasional (BN), who held the seat for two terms prior to the 14th general election.
Think-tank Institut Darul Ehsan said in GE14, 64% of the constituency’s Chinese voters backed PH’s Md Farid Md Rafik.
Chinese voters make up 42% of the constituency’s electorate, while Malays comprise 57% and the rest 1%.
The GE14 result in Tg Piai was one of the surprise victories in the already historic national polls as the constituency was a stronghold for both MCA and its Malay BN partner Umno.
In GE13, Wee won the parliamentary seat by a 5,457-vote majority and in GE12, he garnered a 12,371-vote winning margin.
Pekan Nenas Timur is one of 11 polling districts (PDM) with a high concentration of Chinese voters in Tg Piai. In GE14, 71% of the PDM’s 3,200 votes went to PH.
“If the swing is between 5% and 10%, we can hopefully balance that out by increasing the number of Malay votes,” said Darwis, who is from PH’s component party Bersatu.
“Any more than that number will be difficult to counter,” the 57-year-old told The Malaysian Insight.
Political analyst Kamarulbahrin Zahid had said that in order to win, PH has to ensure that its support level among Chinese voters does not drop below 60% to 63%.
It must also ensure that at least 65% of Chinese voters turn out to vote, meaning that those who work outside Tg Piai must be persuaded to return, said Kamarulbahrin of IDE.
Personality counts
An official in PH’s election machinery in Kg Kukup Laut, a popular Chinese fishing village, said getting a high Chinese voter turnout this time may prove difficult.
The official said there was only a “50-50” chance that the coalition could secure a majority of Chinese votes as compared to the 64% it received in GE14.
The village is part of the Bandar Permas Kechil PDM and in GE14, more than 50% of its votes went to PH.
“This time, many Chinese voters who work outside are likely not to come back to vote. They are upset with PH. So, we have to work hard to increase Malay support,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
In interviews with Chinese residents, The Malaysian Insight found that Wee’s history of service was an advantage over PH candidate Karmaine Sardini and other candidates contesting in Tg Piai.
Besides Wee, the other contestants are Gerakan women’s wing vice-chairman Wendy Subramaniam, 38; Berjasa president Badrulhisham Abdul Aziz, 56; Gabungan Teksi SeMalaysia representative Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar, 43; and Independent candidate Ang Chuan Lock, 39.
“I will support Wee for sure. He is a local, he is helpful. Any complaints he will solve them immediately,” said hawker Tan Kian Guan of Pekan Nenas.
Retiree Lum Kee Sing thinks that Gerakan will take away votes going towards MCA but he will support Wee.
“I will support Wee because he helps local people,” said the 73-year-old Pekan Nenas resident.
One voter, Yap Kim Heng, said he will support the Gerakan candidate this time.
“I will support Gerakan, they have no corruption record. BN has Najib, and MCA chose not to leave BN,” Yap said, referring to former prime minister Najib Razak, who is currently on trial for corruption and abuse of power.
“I don’t believe PH, so Gerakan will be the choice,” said the 70-year-old farmer.
Yet, there are still those who support PH such as shop owner Yap Yee Keng of Kukup.
“I am satisfied with PH’s performance as they got rid of the goods and services tax (GST) and I feel that business has improved. I voted to change the country’s system and I believe the government is doing that.” – November 6, 2019.
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Comments
Posted 6 years ago by Chong Choong Kian · Reply
Posted 6 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply
So, if it is within this range, you Pakatan fellas can go back to Putrajaya and goyang kaki once again?
Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply
That will be a good lesson for Mahathir and his Bersatu cronies.
Posted 6 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply
1) use the non-inclusive agenda of PAS-UMNO alliance to snatch back the votes!
2) get Mazlee to the ground to clarify the Khat issue and Penang Convent School protest issue.
3) get Muhyiddin to explain the Raymond Koh's disappearance and ZN PR status.
4) get PM to tell us what he said at the Dignity Congress.
Failing all these, PH is doomed!
Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply
Posted 6 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply
Posted 6 years ago by Alex Lim · Reply
1) 3 pages of khat that parents and concerned parties to decide to teach or not to teach but willing to subject to pas pis pus Taliban lebai extreme views? Separate seating in ceramah? No cinema? No entertainment?
2) Recognition of UEC. Then what? How many UEC students want to join the civil service or enrol into the public universities?
3) Expect 60 years of wrong doings under Bangsat Negara to be corrected immediately?
4) after 60 years of nonsense with MCA having no role in governing. They turned the role of MP into social worker. With the new government they still expect the MP to play the role of social worker looking after the longkang?
Posted 6 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply