BARISAN Nasional (BN) risks losing Putrajaya if it cannot keep 31 high-risk federal seats won with slim majorities in GE13, as the opposition believes it can win them with just a slight vote swing.

The high-risk parliamentary constituencies include Bagan Datoh, Padang Rengas, Teluk Intan, Jerai, Kuala Selangor, Titiwangsa, Bentong, Labis, Pasir Gudang and Pulai – won by senior BN leaders have also been slotted as part of BN’s forecast of 128 wins in the 14^th general election (GE14). There are also nearly 60 state seats facing a similar risk.

The Malaysian Insight understands that BN strategists are working on analytics and direct campaigning methods to keep those seats despite the possibility of three-cornered fights that could favour the ruling party.

“We won narrowly in straight fights but we are not taking any chances even if there is a three-cornered fight,” a BN strategist told The Malaysian Insight.

“The target are the fence-sitters. We must get their votes,” he added.

He said some BN parties will swap seats to ensure victory and party workers have been told to get a many voters to cast their ballot when the elections are called.

Several local and international companies specialising in data mining, data analysis and strategic communications have also been approached to draw up strategies for BN, sources said.

Last week, one company briefed several BN leaders who are MPs in the high-risk seats and offered them training for better communications. Among the methods being considered are viral videos tailor-made and delivered to their respective electorate.

A BN official who was briefed on the matter said: “This company based in London said it can deliver the messaging at ballot-box level as they have the data and capability to do that.

“It is amazing what they can do,” he said, adding that the company has been given the contract to produce the videos to be used in the next polls, which are due by August 2018.

Another BN strategist said Prime Minister Najib Razak, who chairs the coalition, has made it clear that the 31 parliamentary constituencies must be won at all costs.

“We lost the two-thirds parliamentary majority twice and the popular vote once. We can’t afford that any more so that’’s the reason we will consider all strategies and methods to get our message across to convince the voters.”

Malaysia’s fractured opposition front Pakatan Harapan (PH) is also making a play for the high-risk BN seats, now that Umno splinter party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, has joined it.

It is understood that Hindu activist group Hindraf, which claimed that the Indian minority number more than BN’s slim majorities in the 31 seats, wants to join PH and stand in the Cameron Highlands and Segamat seats won by the ruling coalition’s MIC party.

Bersatu and Amanah, the PAS splinter party, are expected to contest most of these seats although no final allocation has been decided as yet. – May 21, 2017.