KULIM – It remains to be seen if Perikatan Nasional (PN) can maintain its momentum in the Padang Serai Parliament by-election as their message of sowing racial and religious sentiments is a relatively new narrative up north, said a political scientist.
While race and religion have been a recurring theme in the past three general elections, the narrative from PN in the recent 15th election was more profound, as it resonated among a big segment of voters, particularly the Undi18 group, said Sivamurugan Pandian from University Sains Malaysia (USM).
The School of Social Science academician said it is not surprising that PN is using the same formula in Padang Serai, led by its candidate Datuk Azman Nasrudin, a former Kedah PKR senior leader.
Azman, who defected to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which is part of the PN coalition with PAS and Gerakan, has been campaigning on grounds that the Malays were cheated by the combination of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), which betrayed their own principles to form the national unity federal government.
Although the narrative has slackened since the cabinet was formed, PN seems to have enjoyed a stronger momentum than PH, which is fielding Kedah PKR secretary Mohamed Sofee Razak, who is also an avid social commentator.
While some quarters have also pointed out that Sofee was largely imported into Padang Serai, having contested in Kuala Ketil in the Sgi Petani district – the other end of the Kulim highway, he has begun to make inroads with a campaign driven by moderation, and that PH is now the dominant political force in the country.
But he must also contend with the fact that PN now controls Perlis and Kedah while causing three major upsets in Penang by unseating PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar in Permatang Pauh, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican in Kepala Batas, and retaining Tasek Gelugor through Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan who is PN Information head.
Sivamurugan said that the country has entered uncharted territory with a national unity government, and along with it comes a new narrative and far-right leaning sentiments, which does not accept rationality such as justice, economic growth and pluralism.
“But since it is new, it remains to be seen if the narrative of just Malay-centric issues is sustainable or not. Padang Serai may be the testing ground. It may just be a fad, especially with the unleashing of the younger voters from Undi18.”
Sivamurugan accepts the notion that the momentum remains with PN though PH and BN were the ones who formed the unity government with the Borneo bloc Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia and two Independents.
“Malay voters decided to boycott BN for their alleged corrupt and tainted administration but instead of going to PH, they went to the newest bloc, PN.”
The swing also went ahead despite there being no glaring new policy shifts or promises made by PN other than assuring voters that it would be a Malay-centric government.
In Padang Serai, there are two other factors: Azman is the assemblyman for Lunas which comes under the Parliament, and also a state executive councillor – while Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor is also said to be a populist leader.
After a high early voting turnout yesterday for Padang Serai, at above 60%, PKR veteran and former senator, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff believes that PH can launch a counterattack against the momentum launched by PN.
“Firstly, it is a PH stronghold. We have held the seat for the past three terms.”
But to keep Azman at bay, Yusmadi suggested a more forceful campaign based on the needs and wants of the constituents rather than caving into race or religion rhetoric.
“Appeal to the voters (by saying) that PH wants to deliver jobs and eradicate poverty. If everybody is happy, I am sure, they will not want to dwell on the centuries-old polemics of race and religion.”
Yusmadi agrees that PH has a fight on its hands with a strong PN wave in the background – but the momentum is not solid, as it lacks substance nor solutions.
Elections are now just over three days away on December 7.
The Election Commission postponed the election from November 19 to December 7 after the death of its incumbent and PH candidate M. Karupaiya.
Padang Serai has 133,767 eligible voters, with 81,230 of them in the Lunas state constituency – and the remaining 52,546 voters in Merbau Pulas, the only other state constituency in Padang Serai.
In terms of ethnicity, 70.11% are Bumiputera, 15.11% are Indians, and 14.16% are Chinese. Others account for 0.52% in the largely blue-collar working-class area.
Sofee and Azman are now in a fight with independent Sreanandha Rao after the other candidates Datuk Sivarraajh Chandran (BN), Hamzah Abdul Rahman (Pejuang), Mohd Bakhri Hashim (Warisan) pulled out.
Sivarrajh and Bakhri did so after their parties, who are part of the unity government, urged them to campaign and support Sofee instead – The Vibes, December 4, 2022
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