THE effects of the diesel subsidy rationalisation could be the one main issue played up in campaign for the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang.

Checks with voters in Sungai Bakap, about 37km from George Town, showed there are not many pressing local issues for the campaigners to ponder aside from the occasional water disruption and traffic congestion due to the expansion of the industrial parks.

Voters said they want facilities such as futsal courts and better local government services. However, their main concern is inflation.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was aware of the need to address the issue while presenting Dr Joohari Ariffin, 60, as the Pakatan Harapan/PKR candidate for the seat.

Joohari lives in the constituency and has served the community as a teacher and social activist.

Rafizi said the government had no choice but to replace the blanket subsidy with a targeted one.

He referred to the RM1.3 trillion national debt as the main reason why Malaysians needed to swallow a “bitter pill,”.

He added that the intermediate to long-term prospects of economic growth are bright if the country reins in the runaway public debt and spends on more strategic items such as upgrading infrastructure, repairing schools, and having more public hospitals.

Already, there are signs that the economy is picking up steam after the lean years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rafizi said thr Bursa Saham Malaysia is among the top bourse performers in Asia this year.

“The 14 counters are among the most active in Asia. It shows we are on track.”

Days after the diesel subsidy was removed, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was advised to put off the decision until after the by-election but that he had disagreed.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said Malaysians must face the subsidy removal.

The government will have to work extra hard to impress upon the voters the need to rationalise subsidies, starting with diesel and soon to be followed by RON95 petrol.

It must ensure that the voters understand the reasons for the subsidy removal to avoid triggering protest votes.

PAS green wave

Perikatan Nasional, especially PAS, must continue to ride on the Malay-Islam wave of the last election to keep the Sungai Bakap seat.

PAS has named businessman Abidin Ismail, a former personal assistant to the late PAS Sungai Bakap assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff, as its candidate.

Universiti Sains Malaysia political scientist Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said PAS’ green wave was still evident, allowing the Islamist party to retain its momentum in Sungai Bakap.

He said that PAS can continue to capitalise on the sentiments among rural town folks that Umno had betrayed the community by siding with PH to form the national unity bloc instead of sticking to their original principles.

However, he added that PH’s Joohari could prove to be a serious challenger.

He said Joohari can reach out to Umno traditional voters and civil servants to swing the support in his favour.

Political observer Rahmad Isahak said that there are some questions surrounding PN because of the internal issues afflicting the pact as a whole.

These include the status of Bersatu’s elected representatives who have backed Anwar and the uncertainty in PAS leadership following its president Abdul Hadi Awang’s health situation.

Rahmad said that the political upheaval in the country will continue to prevail unless there is a realisation among the Malays that the best resolution is in a Malay unity format, not just a national unity government, which is the current form.

Hisommudin Bakar at Ilham Centre has said that the voter turnout will play a role in deciding who wins or loses.

PAS won the seat in the last election because of a high voter turnout and a surge in Malay-Islam sentiment against PH, but by-elections usually yield a lower turnout.

The Sungai Bakap seat fell vacant following Zamri’s sudden death on May 24.

Zamri, then the Nibong Tebal PAS chief, had won the seat last August, defeating PH’s Nurhidayah by 1,563 votes after winning 15,433 votes.

Nomination is on Saturday while polling is on July 6, giving the opponents 14 days to campaign.

The demographics indicate that the battle is largely for the Malay vote. The largest community in the seat makes up 59.36% of voters, Chinese 22.54%, Indians 17.39%, and other minorities 0.71%.

The latest voter registration showed there are 39,279 voters in the constituency, 39,222 of whom are regular voters and 57 are police members. – June 20, 2024.