THE Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief minister candidate for Malacca, Adly Zahari, is popular among voters, but it is unclear whether this will translate into votes in the state elections tomorrow, said the Ilham Centre.

The pollster said 56% of survey respondents want him to helm the state again, after his 22-month tenure was cut short by the Sheraton Move last year.

His popularity is higher than Umno’s Sulaiman Md Ali, who scored 35%, and Idris Haron (8%).

Adly was replaced by Sulaiman after his coalition was ousted from the federal and several state governments last year.

Idris is also a former chief minister, and was an Umno member before he was sacked for pulling support for Sulaiman last month, causing the collapse of the state government and triggering the state elections.

He was one of four assemblymen who withdrew their support.

“Although Adly led Malacca for only 22 months, his leadership had an impact on Malaccans, according to voters surveyed,” said the centre, after releasing its survey results today.

“This much was admitted even by supporters of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN). The question is: is the Adly factor enough to translate into votes for PH?”

However, BN will have the upper hand if there is a low voter turnout tomorrow, it added.

Ilham Centre said three factors can contribute to a low voter turnout, namely fears of Covid-19 and a subsequent lockdown should there be a surge in cases; voters feel that the elections is the result of politicking and unnecessary; and, excessively strict standard operating procedures that dampen campaigns.

The survey involved 1,051 respondents registered as voters in Malacca, and was conducted from October 23 to November 15.

It found that Adly is popular as his administration lacked overbearing bureaucracy and provided aid to everyone, regardless of ethnicity and political affiliation.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman supporters said they preferred his leadership because of the Covid-19 aid handed out at the federal level by the previous Muhyiddin Yassin-led government.

PH has named Adly as its chief minister candidate, while BN has Sulaiman and PN has Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is a deputy minister. The trio will contest in Bukit Katil, Lendu and Tg Bidara, respectively.

BN, PH and PN will face each other in all 28 state seats, with some seats slated for six-cornered fights because of Independents.

Ilham Centre said 63% of survey respondents rejected chief minister hopeful Idris, who will contest the Asahan seat on a PH ticket.

It added that this was revealed when voters were asked about the coalition’s explanation on why it accepted Idris and Nor Azman Hassan, another former Umno assemblyman who withdrew support for Sulaiman.

“The ban on face-to face campaigning and ceramah has not helped both of them (Idris and Nor Azman) and PH in answering the attacks by Umno, which has branded them (the duo) as traitors.

“Instead of racking in votes as PH had hoped, the opposite may happen.”

Nor Azman is defending his Pantai Kundor seat on a PH ticket. – November 19, 2021.