DISSATISFACTION with Putrajaya delivered Tg Piai to the opposition this month but voters said the by-election result is not an indication of their support in the next elections.

They told The Malaysian Insight, if anything, it was an expression of voter unhappiness against the federal government more than the state government.

They said the result of the by-election doesn’t reflect the sentiment in Johor as a whole.

They believe Pakatan Harapan must be given a chance as there is still some three years left on the mandate given to the state government before the next general election.

“We are not angry at the government, we only feel a little dissatisfaction with some of their actions after taking over the federal government,” said Ng Jeck Sai, who lives in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Skudai.

The 52-year-old who owns a steel factory said some of the policies introduced by PH caused businessmen like him to feel angry as their incomes were affected.

“Whoever governs now, it is the same. The economy is bad. PH has three years and we will give it that. We will wait until the GE15,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Barisan Nasional (BN) lost its grip on Johor in the last elections. BN now governs Perlis and Pahang while Terengganu and Kelantan are under PAS. Sarawak, meanwhile, is under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) a coalition of former BN component parties.

After forging a political alliance under the Muafakat Nasional charter, PAS and Umno hope to recapture the federal government and the state governments they lost at the next elections.

Johor is on the radar, together with Perak, Kedah, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

At the moment, BN and PAS have 17 out of 56 state seats in Johor.

A voter in Tg Piai, who wanted to be identified only as Oh, said PH must be given the opportunity as they are still new compared with BN, which had been governing for more than 60 years.

“We don’t know yet if we would change governments. Who knows in three years’ time they can make us feel better. Maybe we will let them rule,” said Oh in Pekan Nanas.

Civil servant Saiful Anwar said there are no real issues for Johor folk to change the state government at present.

He said many issues raised in Tg Piai were national matters.

“Personally, I am satisfied with the government. There is no big issue at the state level and we as civil servants don’t see any problem with the current administration.

“The result in Tg Piai can’t be used to measure the political situation in Johor. That is a special case.”

On November 16, MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng won back the seat for BN with a crushing 15,086 majority. He lost the seat in the 2018 general election to PH’s Md Farid Md Rafik, whose death triggered the by-election.

Another civil servant, Muzaffar Yusupah, said it is still too early to judge PH since the coalition had just taken over the country’s administration.

“We understand there are obstacles. They are just in power for two years. How can they satisfy everyone,” said Muzaffar.

For low-income earners, the high cost of living and daily issues made PH an easy target.

“My son who is studying at a matriculation college in Muar has been calling me for the past three days for money, but I can’t provide it. I just moved to another cheaper house because I can’t afford RM1,000 a month,” said Omar T.H. Kamati, 50.

The steamed bun (pau) and coconut drink seller in Bandar Baru Uda said his business has been in decline for the past two years.

To make matters worse, local council officers enforce strict laws, making it difficult for him to continue operating his business.

“Usually I can sell 100 coconuts but since two years ago, to reach 50 is an uphill task. Buying power is not like before.

“Singaporeans don’t buy like they used to.

“If PH continues like this, with the economy this bad, I’d be dead,” said the father of four sons.

For Ah Wee, 32, the current economy had turned him into a victim as he had lost his job as a contract worker.

“Whoever governs, we are still the same. It is hard to get a job. I have been jobless for a month.

“Singapore is not hiring like they used to. My friends who worked there have returned. They are firing people,” said Ah Wee when met in Nusa Bestari. – December 4, 2019.