The Malaysian Insight

AFTER receiving a lukewarm response from voters brought about by the ban on campaigning in Malacca, DAP leaders are now turning to their supporters from outstation to return to the state and vote this Saturday.

The party’s state elections director Khoo Poay Tiong said as the campaign enters its last leg, it is pushing to get outstation voters to return.

He said that if voters out of town do not return to vote, DAP’s seats will be impacted heavily.

“A 10 to 20% fewer voters will also affect DAP’s performance,” Khoo said.

The party is contesting in eight seats. Polling for the 28-seat assembly is on Saturday.

Two new candidates, Muhamad Danish Zainudin and Leng Chau Yen, are being fielded in the Pengkalan Batu and Bandar Hilir seats respectively.

The others are incumbents Saminathan Ganesan (Gadek), Kerk Chee Yee (Ayer Keroh), Allex Seah Shoo Chin (Kesidang), Damian Yeo Shen Li (Duyong), Tey Kok Kiew (Bemban) and Low Chee Leong (Kota Laksamana).

Khoo said Malacca has always been a Barisan Nasional (BN) state.

“At that time, we thought that the federal government could be replaced, but the state government will not fall,” he said of how Pakatan Harapan (PH) had captured the state government in the 2018 election.

PH had won a majority in both the Malacca assembly and Parliament in 2018 unexpectedly but subsequently lost the state after defections to BN, which in turn was toppled after four assemblymen withdrew support for the chief minister recently.

The assemblymen are former Malacca chief minister Idris Haron (Sg Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), former DAP Pengkalan Batu assemblyman-turned-independent Norhizam Hassan Baktee and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas).

DAP reminds voters their vote is for five years

DAP’s national organising secretary Anthony Loke said as things stand, candidates can only use their three meals a day to reach out to voters.

He said strict standard operating procedure meant no ceramah and door-to-door campaigning but candidates got around it by visiting the restaurants and stalls for meals, which allowed them to rub shoulders with voters.

The Health Ministry has barred any activities, rallies or social gatherings related to the Malacca elections from October 25 until November 27.

“Sometimes, a candidate eats breakfast three times in the morning, the same for lunch and dinner.

“This is done so that voters can meet the candidate, and then we send DAP leaders to the eight Malacca seats where the party is contesting,” said Loke.

He said that DAP’s biggest challenge during the campaign is to tell voters to elect a state government they want for the next five years.

“We lack face-to-face campaigns and cannot perceive the feedback that voters are giving us,” Loke said.

“In the past, the leader and the candidate gave speeches and the audience (voters) responded.

“Those who agreed with us applauded and shouted slogans. This time around, we rely solely on online publicity.

“We can’t read the voters’ reaction. The speaker faces the camera on live broadcast, he can’t see the voter’s reaction at all.”

Allow televised debates among candidates

DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong said the Election Commission can arrange for the candidates or chief minister candidates to debate on television or online platforms everyday as a way to reach voters.

He suggested again a televised debate by the chief candidates of the three political coalitions at least, and allow each to put forward their political views on the development of Malacca.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa previously announced that the government would Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) to broadcast posters and biodata of candidates participating in the Malacca elections.

“It is useless to broadcast the candidates’ photos and information only. If it’s really fair, the candidates should be allowed to debate on television.

“Every coalition wants to govern Malacca, so let the chief minister candidates debate. Let RTM hold a debate. There must be a debate.

“Confrontation and interaction are the only useful ways for everyone to put forward their own political opinions,” Loke said.

BN has named its incumbent chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali while PH is going with former chief Minister Adly Zahari.

Perikatan Nasional has yet to name its choice for chief minister but said it would name the candidate on the eve of the polls. – November 17, 2021.