FLOODING that has hit several states may not necessarily keep people from the ballot box tomorrow, political analysts said.

They told The Malaysian Insight that parties may use their infrastructure to convince affected voters to make the journey to the polling stations, while people not directly affected may cast their vote as a way to express dissatisfaction.

Malaysia will go to the polls tomorrow, a decision that has been unpopular with the public as well as opposition lawmakers.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said the Umno-led Barisan Nasional alliance may pay the price for calling for an election during the monsoon season.

“People are angry with a government that ignored the advice from the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

“People were already angry in 2018, when the government called an election on a Wednesday.

“Pakatan Harapan made it an issue and promised a day off if it won, and it did. It is the same now, it is an issue and this perception is being used against the government.

“Umno took the risk because it thought it could use the flood as an opportunity to prevent people from voting.

“Of course, if a place is flooded, people cannot cast their ballot but in other places people will go out and make their vote count,” Mazlan said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya’s Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi said parties will try to encourage people to vote.

He said even in affected areas, campaigners have already begun assisting voters.

“Maybe there will be backlash from unhappy voters but I think the impact is minimal, because I believe by now campaigners are out doing their job in assisting people in flooded areas.

“Whichever party that offers the most help, even Umno, is likely to get the support from the voters. People will choose a party that offers the most help.

“Regardless of whether your party is responsible for dissolving parliament, if you do not assist the victims or the people in the area, they won’t vote for you.

“Tomorrow, people will still go out to vote,” he said.

Parts of Selangor, Johor, Kelantan and Malacca are already underwater where thousands of people are in flood shelters.

Meanwhile, MetMalaysia has forecast that Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, and the west of Johor are expecting more heavy rain early tomorrow morning, with thunderstorms expected to hit in the evening.

Kelantan and Terengganu are expecting constant rain throughout the day. 

On Friday, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said rivers in four states – Pahang, Perlis, Sarawak and Selangor – are on the verge of bursting their banks.

In a statement, Nadma said the rivers are Sungai Rompin (Pahang), Sungai Perlis (Perlis), Longjegan Baram (Sarawak), and Sungai Langat and Pekan Meru Sungai Klang (Selangor). 

It said Sungai Muar Tangkak and Sungai Batu Pahat in Johor, as well as Batang Rajang Mukah, Batang Krian Betong, and Batang Suai Miri in Sarawak, had reached alert level. 

As part of its preparations, Nadma said seven shelters are currently open across the country, three each in Selangor and Johor and one in Kelantan. 

Since the start of this month, several areas in Selangor have been hit by flash floods, resulting in election campaign disruptions as candidates turned to providing relief to victims.

Undue hardship for voters

Meanwhile, Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said voting is likely to be affected in flooded areas, because people will be prioritising families and belongings.

“Otherwise, people will vote. Initially, our findings showed that many did not agree to have elections during monsoon season.

“They will still vote, but for whom is still not known,” Hisommudin said.

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the flood may create undue hardship for voters, but parties with strong grassroots support may help.

“Parties like Umno or PKR or PAS with strong campaign infrastructure could perhaps get their supporters to vote more readily.

“Of course, the flood may hamper movement but established parties can mobilise.” – November 18, 2022.