POLLING day is fast approaching in six states and both sides are peddling the best they have to offer in a last-ditch effort to win over voters.

State elections are just that – state elections.

The idea that it has any bearing on the federal government is frequently repeated political misdirection.

While they will likely posture as such, especially in the event of a big Perikatan Nasional win, the effect they have would largely be persuasive, aside from the bragging rights and morale victory imparts.

This, coupled with well-timed provocations and populist bursts of dubious claims on the part of the caretaker Kedah MB Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, forms the bulk of PN’s narrative.

To run an entire campaign almost squarely on provocation, and along racial lines at that, begs the question of moral and political bankruptcy.

More significantly, what next?

PN has tabled more than 100 promises to the Selangor voters, but can it deliver?

Despite bashing PH for being an inept government, PN’s argument for itself hinges on Mohamed Azmin Ali’s popularity as menteri besar. He had served a full term, just like his protégé-turned-rival Amirudin Shari.

On his part, Amirudin seems to have done a decent job in Selangor, even winning over his detractors, who saw him as a former Azmin proxy and thought him too young to lead the large and rich state.

His government too seems to be unburdened by scandal, of corruption and the moral kind.

In a state that seems to have everything, can a coalition that rules backward states like Kelantan offer anything substantive to the people of Selangor other than rhetoric and minor infrastructure improvements? Anything of value on a fundamental level?

This probably explains the claim that Anwar Ibrahim could fall with the state government, a bold assertion that has no constitutional, legal or logical basis.

The PH line-up in Selangor maintains, for the most part, ts youthfulness, though this is now challenged by Muda’s set of young people.

Muda’s disadvantage is that it has no coherent war cry either. Like PN, it has taken to Anwar bashing, though in a more “ethical” manner, if there such a thing is possible.

Its idealistic stance and promises, despite knowing it cannot form a state government, ignores realpolitik. No matter how the narrative is skewed, the party cannot deny it will split votes as it will be cannibalising traditionally DAP and PKR voter bases without creating its own.

At the end of the day, its greatest promise is to be an effective opposition party.

The saving grace of PH, seems to be Anwar, whose PR blitz is designed to create an image of a caring leader who is in touch with his people, especially the young. He is portrayed as someone who wants to cut the red tape and focus on both business and welfare; similar in many ways, to his Indonesian counterpart and friend, Joko Widodo.

Whether Anwar’s credentials and newfound, if slow-gaining, popularity with the electorate can withstand multi-angled attacks, remains to be seen.

In Penang, a few controversies threaten PH’s dominance. First, of course, is the removal of caretaker deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy and his team, which seems like overkill.

Next is the conflicting messaging of DAP, which is promising “rejuvenation” while maintaining the old faces faces who are popular with the older Chinese folk but not so much with the Malay voters.

There is not a widely accepted, strong leadership figure either, from either PN or PH, in most states other than Terengganu and Kedah.

There are important considerations for those going to the polls on Saturday, but sadly these are not addressed while irrelevant arguments form the crux of the campaigns. – August 9, 2023.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.