The Malaysian Insight

PAKATAN Harapan (PH) grassroots leaders are urging their top leadership to consider using Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “dacing” logo in the state polls in Kelantan and Terengganu. 

They said the two states were traditional battlegrounds for the Malay-based parties Umno and PAS, with voters more familiar with the logos of these two giants. 

Parties in PH, on the other hand, have always struggled to win in these states. 

“The east coast can indeed be said to be an 80% to 85% Malay-majority area, which means it is reasonable to use the BN logo. 

“There is a long history between BN and PAS, but PH also can win, maybe in one or two places, not many.  

“For the state elections in these states, personally I have no problem using the BN logo because we know in Terengganu and Kelantan, if it is not PAS, then it is Umno… and this is not new,” Kedah DAP vice-chairman Zulhazmi Shariff told The Malaysian Insight. 

He said the same strategy could be used for state elections in PAS-held Kedah. 

Here, Zulhazmi said, there needs to be a detailed study, given that there were differences in voting patterns and voter demographics.

“In this state, if we look at the breakdown statistics and population patterns, PH is more dominant than BN. 

“We have to review the statistics further so that we can make a decision whether to use one logo or two logos, PH or BN,” said Zulhazmi, who was DAP’s sole candidate in Kedah for the last general election, contesting and losing the Jerai parliamentary seat.  

For the Kedah polls, he said it would be wise for Umno or BN to contest under the PH logo.  

“If you ask me personally, in Kedah, if Umno or BN contests on the PH logo, it would be better,” he added. 

Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah are three states dominated by PAS, the linchpin party of Perikatan Nasional.  

These states, together with PH-controlled Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan are set to hold their state elections by September.  

 Zulhazmi said parties must consider the sentiment of the voters before deciding on the logo to be used.  

“Like in Kelantan, I understand that the Malay sentiment is stronger. The Muslim Malays are stronger compared to other states such as Kedah, Perlis, and Perak, which are relatively moderate. 

“But in Negri Sembilan, if we say the unity government is strong because there is no opposition, whose logo do we use then? 

“We have to look into the matter in detail,” he added. 

Risk over logo 

Kelantan Amanah youth chief Hazmi Hassan said the logo matter must be discussed further since it should be acceptable to all parties.

“For the state of Kelantan, the issue of the logo has not yet been specifically discussed. Both (logos) have advantages. 

“Umno has already offered (use of the BN logo) and PH has no objection if Umno wants to use PH’s logo. It needs to be agreed upon by both parties. 

“We are worried that a wrong strategy will cause us to lose our seats,” he said. 

“In terms of sentiment, Umno has been around longer in Kelantan and almost won 22 seats in 2004, so that factor may be a strength. 

“I think maybe Umno can use the Umno logo; PH can use the PH logo,” he said. 

Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, better known as Altimet, said the logo issue would be fine-tuned by the leadership but insisted on PH candidates using the coalition’s logo in Selangor. 

“For Selangor, it is not logical (if PH uses a different logo) but for other states I am not sure. 

“But based on the data at the grassroots (in Selangor), it is not appropriate to use any logo other than the PH logo,” the Ampang PKR head said.  

Meanwhile, Amanah vice-president Adly Zahary said all suggestions raised would be brought to party leadership for a decision. 

“There are many suggestions; we will take all the possibilities into account. 

“The most important thing is we want to show we agree and have credibility,” he said. 

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on May 11 said the coalition had yet to finalise whether it would allow its allies in the unity government to contest using the “dacing” symbol in the state polls. 

The Umno president, however, said the BN Supreme Council had decided that the coalition’s candidate would use the “dacing” symbol in the next state elections. – May 17, 2023.