IT is no longer a challenge for opposition parties to campaign in Felda settlements because the communities are no longer the fixed deposit for Barisan Nasional (BN), settlers said.

After the fall of BN in the 14th general election, Felda voters were more receptive to the presence of other parties in their constituencies, they said, adding that in 2018 many settlers voted for Pakatan Harapan (PH) due to anger at BN, they added.

Mohd Rashidi Ismail, 37, deputy chief for Segamat Felda settlers, said the children of settlers are more accepting of other parties in their area.

“Even if DAP wants to come and campaign here, there is no problem, we welcome it,” Rashidi, a third-generation settler from Felda Ayer Hitam, told The Malaysian Insight.

Felda settlers can be found in 20 of the 56 constituencies in Johor.

Felda Ayer Hitam is in the Machap constituency, while Felda Layang-Layang is in Layang-Layang. Both areas are part of the Simpang Renggam parliamentary constituency.

In GE14, PH candidate Maszlee Malik defeated the BN candidate for the parliamentary seat, but the state constituencies remained with BN.

At the time, Maszlee was with Bersatu. He beat Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng, who was defending the seat.

This time around, the former education minister is trying his luck in the Layang-Layang constituency.

He is said to be the PH coalition’s choice for menteri besar if the opposition pact is able to form a government.

Rashidi, who is also the vice-president of the Felda Youth Council said youths, like him, have set up a space for candidates from each party to campaign in Johor.

“In Felda Ayer Hitam, there is a Speaker’s Corner for any candidate from any party to campaign.

“Out of the 72 Felda settlements in Johor, there are 10 Speaker’s Corners including the one in Felda Ayer Hitam,” Rashidi, who is more fondly known as Param by the locals, said.

BN is still dominant

While Felda voters have been receptive to other parties, Rashidi said this time around voters will return to BN as they want stability.

He added that the voting trend of the last election will not happen again any time soon as the settlers are now aware of the opposition’s capabilities, with PH in power for 22 months.

“It’s true that we are open to all parties, but in terms of voting, I believe the settlers will support BN.

“Those above 30 already know who they want to vote for and there is no need to convince them. We are prioritising new voters, and those who will be voting for the first time in this election,” he said.

Ahmad Muzammil Borhan, 33, from Felda Tenang in Labis said settlers in his area will return to BN, having seen what PH could, or could not, do.

However, voters around the age of 30 to 40 may refuse to go out to vote, he said.

“In my area, those who changed are the youth. The older generation are still loyal, while the youth may choose to not vote and even if they did, they will support BN.

“We have tried changing the government and we saw the results of that. Now we want to return to the dark blue, the original blue,” Muzammil said, referring to BN.

“We’ve changed so many colours and the results are still the same. I may not go out to vote,” he said.

Personality matters, not party

Ayer Hitam Felda youth chief Azmi Mohd Koon, 37, said voters will not look at the party but rather the candidate’s personality when casting their votes.

“The voters want to see who can do the work, not which party they are from, that is the trend now. If they contest here but can do nothing for the youths, why would we vote for them?” he said.

For example, he said BN is fielding former Layang-Layang assemblyman Onn Hafiz Ghazi in Machap, which will work to BN’s advantage.

“BN is fielding a candidate with calibre such as Onn Hafiz. Everyone knows him and his work and how fast he is in getting things done.

“Even if I was from Perikatan Nasional (PN), I would still vote for him because I know he can do the work.

“The parties want to rejuvenate themselves and win the youth votes, but yet, they are fielding old candidates, what’s young about that?” he said.

Onn Hafiz will be facing Pejuang’s Johor chief Sharuddin Md Salleh, PAS’s Johor Ulama chief Azlisham Azahar contesting for PN and R. Sangaran from Muda.

A Pejuang supporter, who only wanted to be known as Izzat, 40, said the party can attract the fence-sitters.

Pejuang may also be able to attract youth voters who do not want to vote for big parties such as PN and BN, he said.

“The reception for Pejuang is not the same as PN, BN or PH, but we can attract those who don’t know who to support and those undecided on who to vote for.

“Even those who are out campaigning won’t necessarily vote for the person they are campaigning for,” he said. – March 3, 2022.