BERSATU will not yield the Sri Gading parliamentary seat to Umno in the next general election despite pressure from its Muafakat Nasional ally, which wishes to claim back what it considers to be its constitution by tradition.

Sri Gading Bersatu youth chief Muhamad Zulfadhly Zulkifly said his party will defend the Johor seat it wrested from then rival Umno in the 2018 general election.

The incumbent MP, Sharuddin Md Salleh, however left Bersatu to join Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Pejuang.

This means the fledgling party is a likely contender for the seat in the next polls.

“The central leadership will defend the seat Bersatu won in the 14th general election. We are being consistent,” Zulfadhly told The Malaysian Insight.

Sharuddin won the seat in a three-cornered contest, defeating incumbent Ab Aziz Kaprawi, who was the Sri Gading Umno chief and deputy transport minister, and M. Ashari Sidon (PAS).

Shahruddin polled 21,511 votes to Aziz’s 18,223. Ashari managed 4,548 votes.

Malays make up 65% of the voters in Sri Gading, which was until then an Umno stronghold. Former prime minister Hussein Onn was the first to win here in 1974. Umno was to retain the seat in subsequent elections until 2018, when it was lost to Pakatan Harapan (PH) via Sharuddin.

‘Weak’ MP

Shahruddin’s critics dismissed his chances for re-election as he lacks grassroots support in the constitution.

Local Umno leaders said Shahruddin failed to shore up his support base after winning.

“We see his weaknesses as an advantage for us in Sri Gading. Shahruddin has no future here,” said an Umno leader who asked to remain anonymous.

“Even though he was in a position of power in Bersatu, there was no increase in the number of the party branches here.” 

Shahruddin was a founding member of Bersatu and its first secretary-general from 2016 to 2018.

Bersatu has fewer than 10 branches with an estimated total of 7,200 members in Sri Gading. In comparison, Umno has 104 branches and 52,000 members.

“Shahruddin has no special team in Sri Gading. And if you compare his set-up to Umno’s, you will find that he does not have the election machinery that many of us saw during GE14 when he was assisted by Amanah and PKR,” said Hanafi Mansor, 29, a resident of Sg Bioh, an area Shahruddin frequently visits.

Saiful Azwan Musa, 38, meanwhile, said Sharuddin had not brought any change to the area and that the locals could barely recognise their elected representative.

The voter from Parit Raja said the constituents did not know Sharuddin because he rarely visited.

“If Aziz (from Umno) were to contest the seat now, chances are he’ll win because the people here love him and he is very approachable.”

In contrast, “many people here do not even know the name of their present MP.  But mention Aziz and everybody knows who he is”.

Voter Hanafi said Shahruddin would do better in Jorak, Muar where he was a BN assemblyman for two terms.

“His election apparatus and support base are better there,” Hanafi said.

Shahruddin was also heavily criticised for showing his face only in certain areas. He is often seen in Sg Bioh, Kg Baru and Seri Bengkal.

“He continues to ride on the Amanah and PKR election machinery,” said Hanafi.

Sharuddin’s visits are low key, he said. “He only joins the villagers for Friday prayers”.

“Sharuddin’s biggest weakness is he has no grassroots support which will do him no good in his defence of the seat.”

Strong together

Umno has shortlisted a number of candidates to vie for the seat, including Aziz.

“Our candidates don’t have skeletons in their closets. We have some qualified people with potential,” said an Umno grassroots leader.

Umno’s partnership with PAS in MN is another reason for confidence, the grassroots are convinced their combined strength will bring them victory.

However, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said his party will be joining part the pact.

This means that Umno or Bersatu will have to make way for the other in Sri Gading in the next election.

The two parties consider Johor to be their stronghold but Bersatu has in recent months lost three MPs, including Shahruddin, in the southernmost state to Dr Mahathir’s new party.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik are the other two. – August 17, 2020.