The Malaysian Insight

UMNO and PAS formalised their cooperation on Saturday, with an eye to win at least 125 parliamentary seats in the next elections.

One such seat is Penang’s Balik Pulau. 

The Malaysian Insight visited the constituency to speak to some voters there, to find out where they will stand in the 15th general election.

And, the picture is quite bleak for Pakatan Harapan.

Mat Saifuddin Che Ahmad, a shop assistant at an Indian-Muslim restaurant in the old town of Balik Pulau, was swamped with customers during the lunch rush on Friday. But, he still had time to talk to TMI about the historic pact that the country’s two largest Malay parties would sign in Kuala Lumpur the next day.

In the past three general elections, the 37-year-old voted for the Umno candidate that Barisan Nasional fielded in this constituency. The coalition lost in 2008 and last year.

However, Saifuddin is confident that Umno will recapture the seat in GE15.

“When Umno and PAS unite, I hope the Malays, my people, unite. If the Malays unite, we will be stronger, our rights will be protected.”

Balik Pulau is one of the 30 to 40 parliamentary seats targeted by Umno and PAS when the parties formed a political alliance with a common goal – making PH a one-term government.

The former rivals formalised their unity last weekend at Umno’s headquarters, Putra World Trade Centre.

An Ilham Centre study based on GE14 results showed that Umno and PAS’ combined share of the votes would have defeated PH in at least 126 parliamentary seats.

Some of these seats were won by senior PH leaders, including Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun); PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is also domestic trade and consumer affairs minister (Kulim Bandar-Baharu); and, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor).

In Balik Pulau, Umno and PAS are ahead of PH by 100 votes. However, they are still behind in two of the parliamentary constituency’s state seats, Pulau Betong and Teluk Bahang.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, in his speech at the Himpunan Perpaduan Ummah assembly on Friday, said an Umno-PAS pairing will gain control of eight states in GE15.

Another voter in Balik Pulau said if PH loses in the next elections, it will be because the coalition failed to keep its promises, and not because of Umno and PAS.

Educational counsellor Mohammad Zul Fadzli Zamri, 25, said he followed the majority and voted for PH last year because the pact promised change.

Hope in PH has faded because of uncertainty in the government, he said.

“The people of Balik Pulau expected the area to be developed when PH won, but nothing has changed.

“As we see it, Malay rights are now being challenged. I personally cannot wait for GE15 to change the government.”

Malays make up the majority of the 59,086 voters in Balik Pulau, at 65%. Chinese voters make up 30%, while Indians, 5%.

Most of the Malays there work odd jobs, or are involved in either tourism or fisheries. Cottage industries in some rural areas are popular tourist attractions in the constituency.

Mat Saifuddin shares the counsellor’s view.

“They (PH) promised a lot, which they didn’t fulfil. They said they were going to abolish tolls, erase PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) debt, but they did not.”

Umno and PAS leaders are not taking it for granted that their alliance, coupled with PH’s poor performance, will guarantee them victory come GE15.

“The quality of the candidate should also be considered by the top leaders,” said Balik Pulau Umno deputy chief Mohamad Farid Saad.

He believes that based on a high percentage of Malay voters, Umno and PAS can win, provided that the parties support the cooperation pact during the elections.

Penang PKR Youth chief Fahmi Zainol acknowledged that Umno and PAS’ cooperation should be a signal to the state government and PH machinery to work harder.

“I believe this pact has an impact in Penang. This should be a signal to the state government to work and serve the people.” – September 16, 2019.