THE content and style of their campaigns are as different as night and day.

Barisan Nasional runs a tight show centred on stability, service and silence on the elephant in the room – 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

The candidates do the daily market rounds, go door-to-door, make promises and get the chief Najib Razak to turn up and make the big promises. Otherwise, they talk about local pledges.

They get BN strategic comms czar Eric See-to to slam the Pakatan Harapan government in Penang and Selangor. And they get 1MBD chief executive Arul Kanda to explain the scandal, which in his mind isn’t a scandal.

The candidates don’t talk about governance, only about service and stability. A video featuring GLC chief executives singing the refrain of Hebatkan Negaraku, the BN campaign slogan, is followed by popular singers singing the same tune.

The opposition candidates go a different route. The Pakatan Harapan hopefuls slam corruption scandals, consumption taxes and talk about the need for a clean government.

They use Facebook, WhatsApp, WeChat and the internet to spread their news, views and videos.

And they have outdoor ceramah and rallies to attract the curious and the fence-sitters with one-liners and old politicians to help in their political pitch.

They cite the achievements in Selangor and Penang to back up their manifesto.

The PAS candidates stick to the tried-and-tested personal visits and mosque ceramahs. And they slam both sides.

With six days till polling day on May 9, one wonders when one of the contenders will strike the surprise killer blow to convincingly win GE14. – May 3, 2018.