Johor polls: flag wars off to slow start in Muar

MUAR – It is day three of campaigns for the Johor election, but fervour behind the anticipated flag wars in this northern town seems to be off to a slow start.

Contrary to what is being witnessed in the southern region of Johor, with flags erected on almost every street corner, roads leading into this small town and those within the business centre are considerably bare.

Any random individual taking a stroll along Jalan Abdullah near the famous Muar clock tower intersection, and across the bridge towards Tangkak, would not be blamed for assuming election season has yet to start.

A Pejuang party campaign manager told The Vibes, the lack of party flags being erected in Muar was down to the local council’s strict rules.

He explained how the council requires exact details of where parties intend to place their campaign material, and not just approximate locations.

“If we are looking to put our flags around Maharani, we need to specify to the council along which exact street and how many flags exactly we intend to place there, we cannot give them a ballpark figure anymore.

“We believe the stricter rules are down to the town being declared a ‘royal town’ or ‘bandar diraja’,” he told The Vibes.

Muar was declared a royal town by Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in November 2012.

Observations showed that even veins leading towards the Muar courthouse are seemingly barren of any party flags.

However, a few party flags are seen several intersections away along Jalan Arab, towards the Muar Crown Monument and picturesque Sulaiman roundabout.

Banners and flags of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional Bentayan candidates can finally be seen albeit some almost hidden from plain sight.

The most obvious ones are perhaps MCA’s Bentayan candidate Gan Qi Ru banners at the edge of Jalan Arab, near the famous “loving sisters” mural, towering over several PH flags.

This is in stark contrast to several past state elections in Sabah, Melaka, and Sarawak where party flags were erected hours after candidates were officially nominated.

Nomination day in Johor was on Saturday.

As seen during previous elections, parties would normally vie for any plot of space along each other’s state constituencies to erect their party flags, candidate banners, and any other form or propaganda to sway voters.

Parties have just over 12 days of campaigning left before polling day, after which all party and election materials must be taken down. – The Vibes, February 28, 2022