AWARE of its weakness in mobilising grassroots machinery, Pakatan Harapan is using large-scale rallies fronted by well-known leaders to convey its message to voters ahead of the coming elections.

Lack of funds and foot soldiers meant that PH could not compete with Barisan Nasional in mobilising on-the-ground support for programmes or do-to-door campaigning.

“By organising nationwide tours or mega-ceramah, fence-sitting voters will be able to witness our strength and this will influence them to vote for PH in the 14th general election,” said a PH official.

“Of course, it would be even better if we had strong machinery on the ground, but we are still new and don’t have the resources and funding strength like Umno and BN.”

PH has already held mammoth gatherings in Kedah, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Johor.

These mega-ceramah featured top PH leaders, such as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Mohamad Sabu and Lim Guan Eng.

Recently, former cabinet members and Umno veterans Daim Zainuddin and Rafidah Aziz have also started campaigning for PH.

Amanah strategic director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said PH’s nationwide tours which feature some of the country’s former top leaders, such as Daim and Rafidah, have given a sense of security and confidence to voters that the opposition is well-equipped to take over the government after GE14.

“Even though we lose out in terms of grassroots machinery, BN is not able to match our nationwide tours.

“These meet-the-people sessions can influence fence-sitting voters to join us. Apart from that, I’m certain that we are capable of drawing support from Umno and PAS supporters,” said the Kuala Selangor parliamentary candidate.

Still, it is a fact that a strong machinery is needed on polling day to ensure that voters actually reach the polling centres.

Pundits and political commentators believe that more than 85% of the electorate needs to vote on May 9 for the oppostion to have any chance of toppling BN.

So while mega-rallies have been an overwhelming success for PH, the jury is still out on whether the lack of a strong ground machinery will hurt them on polling day.

History certainly is not on its side. – May 6, 2018.