ENVIRONMENTAL issues would still be used as a topic during the campaign period in the run up to the general election (GE) but it would not have a long lasting effect on voters, political pundits said.

They said Selangor which has been hit with several environmental issues such as deforestation, water pollution and floods won’t be getting too much backlash from the public as the state had successfully handled those issues.

Pundits, however, said states under PAS administration, particularly Kelantan and Kedah, may see reprisals from voters as climate issues such as floods, water quality, and logging have not been addressed by the Islamic party for years.

Malaysians will go to the polls on November 19 in the country’s 15th general election, nominations have been set for November 5 while early voting is on November 15.

The general election involves 222 parliamentary seats, 59 Perak state seats, Pahang (42) and Perlis (15).

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have decided not to dissolve its state assemblies this time while Johor and Malacca had its state elections last year.

Dr Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research said environmental issues should be discussed thoroughly by political parties but noted that the issue does not get enough traction from voters.

He said while the issue would be used in certain states, there would not be a long term plan by winning parties to address the problems.

“The water issue in Kelantan for instance will be used by Umno to attack the state administration but there won’t be a long term plan to address it.”

“In Selangor too there are issues with the environment but voters are not interested in the matter.”

“Climate issues should be raised during the campaign period but the problem with people is that they pay attention to the matter only when it happens, after that they forget about it,” he said.

As for Dr Mazlan Ali, environmental issues will be manipulated by parties during the campaign period and would affect states involved once state polls are held.

The academic believes climate issues would be one of the hot topics during the election.

“Rival parties could manipulate the issue to get voters’ attention and as a tool to attack other parties. It will be widely used in Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah and perhaps Penang.”

“Will it affect state polls? We will have to see the result of the general election.”

“If PAS retains Kedah and Kelantan, most probably the Islamic party will not have any problems when there are state polls.

“PAS will receive heavy resistance from Kelantan voters because they have not been able to handle the issue well and this has been going on for years.”

“Unlike Selangor, some of the projects are meant for development such as highways, in fact on water, the problem is handled well. In a day or two it is settled and the way the state government handled it is systematic,” said Mazlan.

Activist, Amlir Ayat on the other hand stressed that climate issues should not just be talked about during the campaign period but must also be addressed once the election is over.

He said it is time for political parties to look into environmental issues as a social problem as it has now affected the daily lives of the people.

“This issue must be highlighted and they need to take a stand on this. It cannot be seen as merely an environmental issue any more. People’s lives are affected and exploitation is rampant.”

Amlir who heads Ecoknights, an independent environmental group said, the people are not interested in climate issues because politicians are not serious in tackling the matter.

“Big companies and industries get away scot free, political parties would say a thing or two but there is no political will to address climate change”

“I believe if politicians are serious, voters can make a clear stand both in the general or state elections,” he said. – October 26, 2022.