AFTER 20 years of PAS rule, the semi-rural seat of Permatang Pasir on mainland Penang is where the Islamist party will find out where it stands with voters without its former allies, who are now in Pakatan Harapan.

The small town made up of kampung houses, padi fields, farms, religious schools and family-run shops and eateries under the Permatang Pauh federal seat was Barisan Nasional territory until PAS won the state seat in the 1999 polls.

Permatang Pauh then had been swept up in the reform movement following the 1998 sacking and arrest of its charismatic MP Anwar Ibrahim, who was deputy prime minister. 

PAS became an ally of Anwar’s PKR that year and has since won and held on to Permatang Pasir. 

It won the seat in the 2004 and 2008 elections through Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman. After Hamdan died in 2009, Mohd Salleh Man retained the seat for PAS in the by-election and again in the 2013 polls by 6,826 votes. It is the only state seat PAS has managed to win since 1999.

But how PAS will fare in Permatang Pauh in the next general election is anybody’s guess.

BN’s chances

Now that PAS and PKR are no longer allies, BN might stand a chance to wrest Permatang Pasir, said factory worker Amer Asari.

“In a three-cornered fight, I think BN can win Permatang Pasir back. BN used to be strong here,” the 50-year-old said.

A three-cornered fight is expected because PAS has refused to join PH, which includes PKR, after breaking away from the now-defunct opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat.

Amer said Permatang Pauh Umno division leader Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said had also been working hard on the ground to win over voters. 

BN supporters here, such as stall owner Aman, welcomes the possibility of a BN rep after 20 years.

“There’s little good in voting for the opposition. You don’t get much benefit. I have also not seen the PAS rep in a whole term.”

Retired guard Ahmad Bahari, 68, said he supported BN because the party had the resources to give aid to the people. 

About three quarters of Permatang Pasir voters are Malay Muslims, and with the Malay vote likely to be split three ways, retired driver Lee said Chinese voters are more important than ever to PAS, PH and BN. Chinese voters make up 25% of the electorate in Permatang Pasir. 

“All three parties sent people to meet Chinese voters, bearing goodies even before Chinese New Year.

“The Umno leader here has been working hard, visiting Chinese schools in Permatang Pauh,” the man in his 70s said, referring to Zaidi.

Zaidi himself believes BN might get some Chinese votes back, judging from the community’s reception towards BN.

“I visited six Chinese schools around Permatang Pauh recently to hand out Chinese New Year goodies. The teachers were friendlier compared to three years ago,” he said.

PAS, however, is not counting on Chinese votes and will instead focus on winning over Malay fence-sitters, who make up about 30% of the Malay vote, Permatang Pauh PAS election director Amir Hamzah Abdul Hashim said.

“In our surveys, we consider all Chinese votes going to PH,” he said.

Amir said despite PAS being the incumbent, the party’s chances are only 50/50.

“That is why we have to continue working hard on the ground, going into the kampung, distributing pamphlets and organising ceramah.”

Sympathy and fence-sitters

Amanah, whose leaders come from the progressive faction of PAS, will be fielding a candidate to represent PH in Permatang Pasir.

Besides the split in Malay support between Amanah and PAS, Umno’s Zaidi believes the newer party is at a disadvantage if they field an outsider.

Permatang Pasir resident Ismail, concurred. “Amanah is just coming up. Who is its candidate? (whereas), PAS and BN are fielding locals,” said the self-employed 51-year-old who declined to give his full name.

It is learnt Amanah has picked its Youth deputy chief Faiz Fadzil, a lawyer and son of late PAS president Fadzil Noor, to be the Permatang Pasir candidate.

Permatang Pauh Amanah chief Dr Zaidi Zakaria said Faiz not being from Penang is not an issue, as opposition parties have sent candidates to contest all over the country and still won.

“The main thing is to field a winnable candidate who can do the job professionally and serve the people well.”

Dr Zaidi is also hopeful about support for Amanah which has had a presence in the constituency for more than two years.

There could be sympathy votes for Amanah following PAS leaders’ attacks on the splinter party.

“PAS leaders go to mosques and attack Amanah leaders, calling them traitors and accusing them of straying from Islam.

“(Ironically) the frequent attacks have made people wonder if Amanah is really as bad as it is made out to be. It has gained us some sympathy.” – March 12, 2018.