JOHOR BARU – The issue of race and religion is again being played up as the campaigns for the Johor by-elections start heating up.
In a campaign speech last night, Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared that voting for Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Pulai parliamentary candidate, Suhaizan Kaiat, as “haram”.
This remark, though made seemingly in jest at a ceramah at Taman Kempas in Johor Baru, drew considerable attention and laughter from the crowd.
He implied that a vote for Suhaizan would inadvertently support the unity government’s two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, potentially facilitating constitutional amendments and the redelineation of electoral boundaries.
He even suggested that the unity government would increase the current 222 seats in Parliament to 300 seats.
He further went on to say that this would be done to DAP’s advantage, the usual bogeyman for PN.
This has set the tone for the highly anticipated by-elections, as they are not mere battles for seats but signify the intense play of sentiment, strategy, and rhetoric in the country’s political arena.
Various analysts have said that at the heart of the Pulai polls is also the looming influence of sympathy votes.
The late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, a respected figure, leaves behind a legacy of dedicated public service.
Historically, the memory of such leaders has swayed voters, leading to significant electoral outcomes.
However, against this backdrop is the “green wave” of PN’s burgeoning support.
Analysts suggest that a shift of Malay votes from BN to PN, while impactful, may be tempered by the substantial non-Malay electorate, whose turnout and choices will be critical in the final outcome.
Additionally, the involvement of PAS, with its emphasis on “saving Islam and the Ummah”, introduces another layer to the narrative.
While such ideological appeals resonate with a section of voters, they also challenge the party to strike a balance between religious rhetoric and substantive political discourse.
Muhyiddin’s remark, while humorous on the surface, underscores the high stakes of these by-elections.
His assertion that a vote for Suhaizan could facilitate constitutional changes seems to take advantage of the sense of insecurity of the Malays by creating the fear factor.
These changes, Muhyiddin suggests, might lead to gerrymandering that could tilt the balance of power in favour of urban and densely populated areas, thereby boosting parties like DAP in future elections.
In the Simpang Jeram state seat, where the PH is the incumbent party, current indications suggest a repeat could be on the horizon.
Factors like the candidate's familiarity, the late Salahuddin Ayub's legacy, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's popularity all contribute to the current electoral sentiment.
In essence, the by-elections in Pulai and Simpang Jeram are shaping up to be more than local electoral contests: they reflect broader national political trends and dynamics.
As Malaysia awaits the results on September 9, these by-elections, infused with political rhetoric, sympathy, and strategy, are poised to shape the politics of the nation for the next four years. – The Vibes, September 3, 2023
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