PAKATAN Harapan is making inroads into the Barisan Nasional fortress of Johor but the coalition’s influence is limited to urban areas on the state’s west coast, said a survey.

Support for the four-party opposition coalition is concentrated in towns and suburbs around Muar, Pagoh, Batu Pahat, Kulai and Johor Baru, said Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar.

The increased support towards PH will enable it to capture the Johor Baru, Pulai and Kulai parliamentary seats from BN, he said.

“Although the mood towards PH is hot in urban areas in Batu Pahat and Muar, voters are still cool towards the opposition in rural areas, such as Sri Gading, Parit Sulong and Ayer Hitam,” said Hisommudin who recently completed a visit to Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

PH is fielding a heavyweight – DAP’s Liew Chin Tong – in Ayer Hitam, a BN stronghold, as a sign of its commitment towards taking over Johor. Liew has said if PH wins Ayer Hitam, it stands a chance of taking over the country.

There are 26 parliamentary seats in Johor and the opposition holds six. The opposition also has 19 seats in the 56-seat state assembly.

PH’s efforts to spread its influence in Malacca and Negri Sembilan have also been limited to urban areas.

“In Malacca, the mood towards PH is positive everywhere because there are few rural and remote areas in the state but in Negri Sembilan, support is high only in urban areas.

“Places like Jelebu, Jempol and Kuala Klawang are still cool towards PH compared with the bigger towns,” said Hisommudin, of his survey in these areas.

Businessmen and entrepreneurs seem to be PH’s biggest supporters, he said.

“They have been deeply hit by the GST (goods and services tax) and the rise in cost of living. PH is also making these two issues big points in their campaigns.” – April 28, 2018.