ANALYSTS predict that Perikatan Nasional (PN) will continue to play up race, religion, and royalty (3R) issues during its campaigning for the Pelangai by-election in Pahang while Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) will promise national stability to woo voters.

They told The Malaysian Insight that PN would use this strategy to convince Malay voters. 

The Pelangai by-election on October 7 will see a three-way fight involving BN’s Amizar Abu Adam, PN’s Kasim Samat, and Independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.

PH is set to back BN’s candidate following the cooperation between both coalitions after the last general election. 

Amizar, a Bentong Umno committee member, and Kasim, who is from PAS, will be contesting the seat for the second time. Haslihelmy is the president of Pertubuhan Suara Anak Pahang. 

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said there was no doubt that PN would use race and religion in its strategy to win over Malay voters.

“Even before the nomination, we have heard issues on 3R and now entering the campaign period, definitely there will be more.

“As for BN-PH, they will talk about stability as a basis for a strong Pahang government.”

Mazlan said both opposition and ruling parties would speak about corruption and the rising cost of living.

“PN will speak about the government and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge from his 47 graft charges and Putrajaya’s alleged failure to deal with the shortage of local white rice.

“BN-PH will talk about the previous administration’s graft cases and will deny that they failed to address the local white rice supply,” said the academic.

The Pelangai state constituency has 16,456 voters.

The by-election comes following the death of Umno assemblyman and Pahang executive council member Johari Harun in a plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam on August 17.

Polling day is on October 7.

Accusations of insulting Islam

Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi of University Malaya mirrors Mazlan’s views.

He said PN has started its attacks by accusing DAP’s Howard Lee of insulting Islam in using a verse from the Quran in his speech recently.

Awang said it was not wrong for one to use Quranic verses in a speech if it was used for the right reason.

“Let’s not forget the non-Muslim wing in PAS too had been using verses from the Quran in their speeches and this was recorded and shared on social media. So, we have to be fair.

“PN will attack their opponent on this angle, accusing non-Muslims of trying to interfere in Islam. PH-BN, on the other hand, will try to convince voters of the importance of stability.

“They will also highlight their recent success in the Johor twin by-elections – that everything is fine on the federal level,” he said.

Over the weekend, PN election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor urged the cops to properly investigate Lee for allegedly making his own interpretation of a Quranic verse.

He warned that such acts could anger Muslims and would lead to protests. 

“In Indonesia, a non-Muslim politician who interpreted a Quranic verse on his own was jailed for two years. But here in Malaysia, police are just starting to investigate (Lee).

“Nevertheless, thank you to the police for opening an investigation. (But) you must investigate this case properly.

“Don’t wait until the people get angry and millions (of Muslims) start protesting in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Sanusi, who is also Kedah menteri besar, was speaking at a PN ceramah in Simpang Pelangai attended by a crowd of over 1,000.

Lee, who is a DAP central executive committee member, allegedly made his own interpretation of a Quranic verse on TikTok.

The police have since launched an investigation against him after receiving complaints.

Zahid’s discharge

Hisomuddin Bakar of Ilham Centre believes the decision to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal would play heavily in the by-election.

He added that PN would also accuse the government of not handling the rice shortage effectively.

“Zahid’s DNAA will definitely be key for PN. They will accuse the government of freeing a corrupt man and the PM of having a hand in the judiciary.

“The government will continue with its stability agenda. On the other hand, there will also be some sympathy for the late assemblyman following the tragic crash,” said Hisomuddin.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid believes PN could woo Malay voters from Umno and has a better chance of winning.

He explained that the younger generation of Felda settlers in Pelangai would seek guidance from their parents on whom they should vote for.

“The older generation who live in Pahang has connections to Kedah and Kelantan. Take Ismail Sabri Yaakob for instance: His parents migrated from Kelantan to Pahang and many others migrated from Kedah to Pahang.

“The young ones in Pahang, maybe third or fourth generation, will be influenced by their parents. With slim majority in the last election with just 4,000 votes, I think PN can cause an upset. 

“PN will also accuse Umno of betrayal after DAP made its move into state administration,” he said.

Fauzi argued that Pahang was known to be an Umno stronghold and by allowing DAP to be part of state administration, voters would be convinced by PN to reject Umno.

“PN will convince the Malays that DAP has entered their state and will brand it as a danger to the Malays.

“With their momentum right now, plus with 3R issues, PN’s support is not going away anytime soon,” he said.

Pelangai was former Umno strongman Adnan Yaakob’s stronghold from 1986 to 2022.

Voters in Pelangai include Malays (70%), Chinese (18%), and Indians (5.82%). – September 25, 2023.