MUDA is looking to contest in all six states in the August 12 polls, party election director Luqman Long said.

However, Luqman said they will not field candidates in all the seats just for the sake of contesting.

“What I can say is that we know our strength. So, we do not want to contest for the sake of contesting.

“We do not want to contest because we disagree or are dissatisfied with the government’s policies or reform agenda. We don’t want to do that,” Luqman told The Malaysian Insight.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had said the party will contest in less than 10% of the 245 seats up for grabs in the state elections.

Luqman said the party wants to give voters good quality candidates rather than contesting in all the seats.

“My aim as the election director for Muda is, instead of sending as many candidates out there just to show we can contest, I would rather send high quality candidates with a good track record in serving the community.

“We are aiming to get as many applications from Muda members and from community folk to apply in all six states.

The Election Commission yesterday announced that polls for Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will be held simultaneously on August 12.

Nomination day is on July 29, while early voting is on August 8. The campaigning period has been set for 14 days from July 29.

A total of 245 state seats will be contested – 32 in Terengganu, 36 each in Kedah and Negri Sembilan, 40 in Penang, 45 in Kelantan, and 56 in Selangor.

Muda has started accepting applications from potential candidates for the state elections.

Luqman said he is hoping to announce the first batch of candidates this week.

“The candidate selection committee will interview the applicants, refer the shortlisted candidates to the party’s political bureau and then we will present it to the president.

“We will hopefully announce the first batch (of candidates) this week, so that people can engage more with them,” he said.

Luqman also brushed off claims that Muda is an elite party, with their focus largely concentrated in the urban areas.

He said most of the seats the party had contested before were in rural areas.

“We have contested in more rural areas compared to urban areas. For example, Tanjung Piai, Bukit Permai in the Johor state polls were rural seats.

“In the 15th general election, Muda contested rural areas such as Kota Marudu in Sabah, Tanjong Karang in Selangor, Masjid Tanah in Malacca and even Muar, which Syed Saddiq won.

“Besides that, Muda also focused on issues outside the Klang Valley. So, I feel it is a false notion that Muda is urban-centric,” the party’s co-founder said.

Giving voters an alternative

Luqman, who is also Muda’s information chief, said the party’s participation in the state polls is not to split votes, but to give voters an alternative.

“I believe the notion of vote-splitting is a very dangerous move by any political party.

“Those voting for Muda are equally legitimate and valuable. It is coming from the people.

“Regardless of votes gathered in the state elections or in future elections, it won’t be based on the idea of splitting votes but it will be based on the idea that we, Muda, want to give people an alternative, aside from the major players – Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional,” he said.

Luqman also echoed Syed Saddiq’s statement that political parties are striking fear in voters these days.

“To say the Malaysian political scene only needs two big blocs is fear-mongering.

“Each and every party has the right to contest. For Muda, in this election and also for the elections to come, one cannot simply say let’s choose the lesser evil.

“Instead, the voters should be educated to look for the better alternative and Muda aims to become the better alternative for the people,” he said.

Luqman asserted that it would be the failure of the political party if they failed to gain their desired results in the elections.

“You cannot simply accuse voters who did not vote for you as if they are the enemy of the state.

“If the outcome of the election is not as what is expected to be, it is not the fault of the voters. It is the own party’s fault because the voters were likely not provided with good, high-quality candidates, not given enough policy-based ideas throughout the campaign period and hence were not convinced to vote for the political parties.

“Just because of your inability to convince the voters to vote for you, it does not mean voters are ignorant. They may want something different, they might want something that resonates with their sentiment, background, a better future for their states,” he said.

Crowdfunding

Noting that it would be a herculean task to compete financially with the big players, Luqman said the party will undertake several crowdfunding initiatives to raise funds for the election.

He said this would include online classes, selling food and assets.

“We do not limit the initiatives and it is not just for the leadership. Even the grassroots can have their own crowdfunding because in the end, it will be for the party,” he said.

Unlike other parties, Luqman said they do not have a big “war chest” to set up ceramah stages or have a flag or poster war.

He said the party would make full use of social media platforms to reach voters.

“We will focus and invest our strength this time on digital campaigning.

“So, we will use TikTok, Facebook and other platforms for the fundraising as well as for ceramah and election campaigning.

“That does not mean we won’t go into the field. Instead of mega ceramah, we will have talks with voters in stalls and coffee shops,” he said, adding that social media platforms still remain as the biggest election tool for political parties in this modern era. – July 6, 2023.