THE Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat remains a tough Barisan Nasional stronghold for Pakatan Harapan to crack, as the Malay-majority area remains loyal to the ruling coalition despite unhappiness with cost-of-living issues.

The incumbent, caretaker minister Noh Omar, has retained the seat since 1995 and is very popular among the locals, including youths.

With access to government resources, he has been able to offset grouses about the goods and services tax and the higher price of goods by riding on government projects.

Four days ago, Noh, who is also the Selangor Umno head, launched a people’s housing project in Ujung Permatang in his constituency, involving 250 units at a cost of RM48.8 million. Each unit is sold at RM35,000.

Voters here admitted that they were concerned by the higher costs of living, but said those were “covered” by the aid and services that Noh, as their MP, gave.

“Tan Sri (Noh Omar) has always helped me. He has got a heart for the people,” said Suradi Ahmad, 58, a paddy field labourer for the last 20 years.

Abdul Fatah Shadan, 36, felt Noh had done a good job carrying out his responsibilities, even in areas that did not vote for him in the previous election.

“Recently, a village got a budget for a new mosque. That was most appreciated,” said the restaurant owner.

“I think the situation in Tanjong Karang is satisfactory because whatever people need has been provided, such as aid for fishermen. There are also the people’s housing projects,” Zaidah Wahab, 44, a businesswoman, said.

Tanjong Karang is one of five parliamentary seats in northern Selangor that form a band of BN-held seats in a state ruled by the federal opposition. The other four federal seats under BN are Sungai Besar, Hulu Selangor, Sabak Bernam, and Kuala Selangor.

The five parliamentary seats house 12 out of 56 state seats. Each federal seat has a majority of Malay voters between 60% to 85%.

PH has been hoping to break this stronghold. On May 1, a survey by the Merdeka Centre of Opinion Research showed that Malay support towards the opposition pact had increased to 27.8%, compared with 20% in mid-April.

Support for BN, meanwhile, had dipped to 51.2% from 53%.

But political science lecturer Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mokhtar said this was not enough to trigger a big wave of change needed for PH to take over Putrajaya.

The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer said this was due to the demographic of rural voters that made places like Tanjong Karang a stronghold.

“The rural demographic in less populated areas – that has always been a criterion for a seat that BN wins.

“In areas like this, the minister can say BN will develop it, and voters will fall for the promises,” Tunku Mohar told Malaysia Decides.

Noh, who is contesting for the sixth time, will be going against PAS’s Nor Az Azlan Ahmad and Bersatu’s Zulkafperi Hanapi, who is representing PH.

In GE13, Noh won with a majority of 4,394 votes. – May 8, 2018.