THE electoral fortune of DAP’s new faces in Selangor will hinge on how voters, especially the Malay electorate, cast their votes in the upcoming polls as Pakatan Harapan (PH) aims to continue ruling the state.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party cannot afford to lose any of the 15 seats it is contesting.

PH, which has been in power in the state for the last 15 years, is facing a stiff challenge from Perikatan Nasional (PN), a coalition fully relying on its Malay/Islam agenda.

One particular newbie who needs Malay support to ensure his victory is Sungai Pelek candidate Lwi Kian Keong.

Lwi told The Malaysian Insight that he might be a “new face” in the election, but he was the campaign director in the Malay-majority constituency of 47,335 voters for previous DAP assemblymen.

In the general election in 2013, he was the campaign director for Lai Nyuk Lan and in the 2018 general election (GE), he masterminded the campaign for Ronnie Liu.

Lwi said he is aware that he needs to deliver, adding that defending the seat is his top priority.

To accomplish this, he has to convince the Malay electorate, who make up 61% of the voters in this constituency, on why they should vote for him.

The Malay electorate in Sungai Pelek has grown in size and now makes up 61% of voters.

Lwi said he is not too concerned about that.

“I have served them as a city councillor for 13 years and I have a good relationship with them,” he said.

He also said during his time as a grassroots leader, he had reached out to young Malay voters.

Lwi said he was “50% confident” that he could defend the seat DAP had wrested from MCA in 2013.

However, he first has a problem to overcome – how to convince Malay voters to come out and cast their votes.

Pointing to the Malacca state elections in 2021 – three years after the 2018 GE – and the Johor state election in March 2022 – nine months before the November 2022 general election, Lwi said past precedents have shown Malay voters are not enthusiastic about going out to vote when the election is not held simultaneously with the general election.

He said he has to avoid a low turnout which could be detrimental to his chances.

The turnout in the Johor state election, for example, was 54.92%.

It will be a three-way fight in this constituency with Lwi facing PN’s Suhaimi Mohd Ghazali and independent Nageswaran Ravi.

The Selangor legislative assembly has 56 seats with PH winning 40 in the last election in 2022 – PKR has 19, DAP 15 and Amanah 6.

Ensuring local growth

Another DAP new face, Yew Jia Haur, does not have the problem Lwi faces in his (Yew) Chinese-majority Teratai constituency.

But like Lwi, Yew is also banking on his grassroots experience and connections as a councillor to rekindle old ties.

“I don’t believe I am a stranger to most of the voters. I have been serving them as Ampang Jaya city councillor since January 2022, and my area of esponsibilities are Ampang Taman Muda and Taman Seraya which I have actively served,” he said.

Yew said if he was elected, he would ensure Teratai becomes a sustainable growth area and do his best to meet the needs of the community.

He will be in a straight fight with PN’s Chew Han Keai in the constituency of 79,579 voters.

Another DAP new face is Dr Quah Perng Fei who has been fielded to contest the 82,826 voters constituency of Bandar Baru Klang.

This seat will also see a straight fight and the man who is out to shatter Quah’s dreams is PN’s Tan Seng Huat.

Quah is appealing to voters who live or work out of town to return home and vote.

His reasoning –  “your vote will determine the fate of your hometown”.

“We all want to see our hometown have more opportunities and better development, so come back and vote. Every vote is crucial,” he said.

With only 14 days to canvass for votes, this medical doctor, whose name will appear as Dr Quah on the ballot paper, said he has no time to lose.

He said being a newcomer, he does not have much time to introduce himself to the voters and his plan if elected.

“I am willing to listen to the voices of young voters. I attach great importance to their needs.”

Quah said his interactions with youth will also be on various social media platforms.

Being a doctor, Quah’s pet issue would be to fight for better healthcare.

He said to improve the healthcare services in the constituency, there would have to be health education and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Polling is on August 12. –  August 3, 2023.