PETALING JAYA – High voter turnout is crucial for both Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) if their alliance wants to achieve success in the coming state elections, said Universiti Malaya political analyst Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
He said voter turnout, especially among new voters who number over a million, will make a huge difference in how PH and BN perform.
“The unity government needs to get its election machinery to place importance on getting voters to go out and vote. The youth are one of the most important factors.
“Getting this group out to vote will be a big plus to the unity government as it will show they have the backing of a crucial voting bank.”
Awang said a high voter turnout is more crucial to Selangor than other states as PN is going out all to try and unseat the state government.
He said it would be more impressive if the PH-BN coalition could increase its majority in the state.
He said the PH-BN coalition needs to work hard to convince fence-sitters, especially those in Selangor, that it is the party that can help them the most.
He said the coalition needs to show this group that their future will be secure under the unity government.
He added this will also show that the unity government is walking the talk.
“DAP’s Anthony Loke and Umno’s Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki should go campaigning house to house together in Malay-majority areas.
“This will show that they are not merely making small talk but are united in the government and are working as a team.”
Awang said what seems to be most absent from campaigning, especially in Selangor, are Umno Youth and Puteri Umno members going to the ground.
Six states – Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu – will hold their elections on August 12.
Economic professor Barjoyai Bardai from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak said that although the youth will play a pivotal role in the elections, many of them remain undecided.
“They make up 40% of the voters but most of them are fence sitters and have not decided who to vote for. They will wait until the last moment to decide.
“It will be hard to persuade them just on promises. They want to know how they will benefit from this election.”
Barjoyai said if they feel they have nothing to gain they will simply not turn up to vote.
He added in today’s environment most voters want to know what will be their short-term benefits by voting for either party.
“They would rather not come out to vote if they feel there will be no immediate impact on them.
“Political parties need to convince voters of what they can do for them and how voting for them will be more beneficial than voting for another,” he added. – The Vibes, August 3, 2023
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