PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli is confident that his Ayuh Malaysia campaign can help Pakatan Harapan win the next election if his team is given two to three months to tour the country and get its message to the masses.

Speaking at the launch last night, the flamboyant former MP said his campaign will also focus on attracting voters to vote for PH as an alternative to Barisan Nasional (BN).

“While the people’s current sentiment is against BN thanks to scandal after scandal and weak governance, the people also see Pakatan Harapan (PH) as weak and not a choice, as is evident from recent state elections.”

“Ayuh Malaysia will tour the country, and get on the ground to explain to the people about the abuse of power by Umno and BN.

“We move today, and in two to three months – when the prime minister calls for election in October or November – we will be ready,” he said in front of an audience of more than 200 in Wangsa Maju.

Rafizi’s Ayuh Malaysia campaign was first launched in March, aiming to win back the voters fatigued by politics.

Their indifference is believed to have cost the opposition the Malacca and Johor elections.

He wants to win this group back by focusing on the same issues fought over in the 2018 general election, which had propelled PH into office.

The past two state elections in Malacca (65.9%) and Johor (54.9%) saw a low turnout, allowing BN to win a two-thirds majority both states.

The Ayuh Malaysia campaign has five agendas: food security, renewable energy, technical and vocational education and training, affordable housing, and educational democracy.

He then revealed the findings from his research company – Invoke – where the sentiment of happiness of the people reached a low point in July.

“Some 80% of respondents were not happy or were dissatisfied with what is going on in our country.

“This is the lowest (satisfaction) rate since the build-up to the 2018 general election, which saw PH win 113 seats compared to BN’s 79,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rafizi said it will be an uphill task for his team as the situation in marginal seats will now be different from the last general election.

He said his Ayuh Malaysia team is targeting 40 to 50 marginal seats in this campaign.

“It used to mean that we only needed 5% of vote swing to give us victory and now, with multiple candidates in seats with 50-70% Malay voters, it means close competition for everyone.

“Our PKR seats are marginal seats. Our election results depend on the marginal seats,” he said.

According to Rafizi, the Ayuh Malaysia campaign will tour at least six constituencies every week starting from August.

Ayuh Malaysia’s next pit stop is Negri Sembilan before heading up north the following week. – August 21, 2022.