BN improves in Sungai Kandis at the expense of non-Malay votes

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 9 Aug 2018 6:00PM · 2 Comments

BN's candidate for the Sungai Kandis by-election speaking at a ceramah on August 1. BN's performance improved slightly in the by-election but this came at the expense of non-Malay votes. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, August 9, 2018.

BARISAN Nasional’s tacit partnership with PAS in the Sungai Kandis by-election in Selangor has only distanced the coalition from non-Malay voters.

According to the by-election polling station (PDM) data, BN improved the least in three non-Malay voter PDMs – Taman Sri Andalas 2, Jalan Raya Timur and Bandar Putri Klang.

Jalan Raya Timur has 24% Malay, 31% Chinese and 43% Indian voters while Bandar Putri Klang has 40% Malay, 31% Chinese and 28% Indian voters. Taman Sri Andalas 2 has 48% Malay, 16 Chinese and 24% Indians.

The by-election held last Saturday saw Pakatan Harapan candidate Zawawi Ahmad Mughni winning the seat by a 5,842 majority, garnering 15,427 votes.

His opponent, Umno’s Lokman Noor Adam, received 9,585 votes whilst independent candidate K. Murthy received 97 votes.

Only 49.4% of the constituency’s 50,800 voters turned out to cast their votes in the by-election.

PAS decided to stay out of this by-election in order for BN to challenge PH in a straight fight.

However, despite PAS’ pullout, BN recorded the lowest improvements in these three PDMs, 0.5% (Taman Sri Andalas 2), 3% (Jalan Raya Timur) and –1.8% (Bandar Putri Klang) compared to the other PDMs.

In the other Malay-majority (above 60%) PDMs, BN averaged a 10% improvement in their number of voters due to the straight fight.

BN cannot attract non-Malay voters because of its reliance on racial and religious rhetorics, said Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

The Universiti Malaya lecturer said the course that Umno had chosen pushed BN into a single-race corner.

“There is no incentive for non-Malay voters to pick them (BN) at the moment. Moreover, MCA and MIC are no match for DAP and PKR,” said the Malay studies expert.

“MCA couldn’t be seen during the campaign at all while (former prime minister) Najib Razak’s brief appearance also did not add value,” added Awang Azman.

He said Umno itself is caught in a vicious cycle of race and religious rhetoric.

“Umno’s struggle has always been race and religion and without them, it cannot win the majority of Malay conservative votes.

“But is it enough for BN to only focus on the Malay vote in the a multiracial Malaysia? Although, Malays are 60% of the population, the vote is already split three ways – PAS, Umno and Pakatan Harapan,” he added.

According to data obtained from the Election Commission, pollster Ilham Centre estimated that Umno won 45% of the Malay votes while PAS took 32% and Pakatan 23%. – August 9, 2018.

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Comments

  • I read that a Sultan has freshly commented that our Malay youth is not so much now focused on race and religion in politics. They are opening up to the world with travel?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Sg Kandis was a test bed for BN / Umno and at the on set they have declared its an uphill battle for them but what puzzle me was their overall approach. First the candidate itself is an outsider being picked simply because he's a stout defender of Jibby even though he only managed to garner 50 paid supporter outside his residence & about 100 at the court house the next day. On constant rate he keeps his vocal defending Jibby. Did Jibby pull the string from behind to get him elected as the candidate? Traditionally for any by election its the duty of the second in command who goes to the war room and on the ground but Hassan presents was limited, instead Jibby was charade around to selected houses. Well you donkeys never learn, as Lokman is a spin-doctor who fails you guys during the GE for giving and feeding all the news instead whats actually happening on the ground. Secondly allowing Jibby to make his rounds and comments when the RAKYAT has already writes him off. Thirdly the racial lines are old school. When will you donkeys ever learn?

    Posted 7 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply