Voters turnout will play a crucial role for the unpredictable Selangor
Is it more of an election fever? Or election fatigue? Observation seems to say the latter, as the mood on the ground seems a bit more blue (pun intended) than say from the 15th General Election which was a mere 10 to 12 months ago.
Although Selangor, Malaysia’s richest and most industrialised state, is expected to be the most hotly contested state - things seem a bit mild so to speak as people are getting bored of the usual politics of racial rhetorics, personal attacks, and mega promises that seem too good to be true.
Going into the last week of campaigning, hustings or ceramah lack their usual allure as what is presented seems about the same, one coalition adamant on keeping their power while another bold enough to challenge it with a healthy dose of personal attacks, exposing skeletons from the closet and a sprinkling of corruption accusations.
The two main coalitions do not seem to have gathered their bearings quite yet, and here we are in a middle of six state elections about to happen in just one day. Promises from the previous elections have yet to be implemented fully.
Ask the average Joes and Janes, and they will probably give you the same response, we are quite tired of it.
Selangor voters are a unique lot, and probably much harder to please. Political literacy is higher too. Voters are picky about candidate quality in the more urban areas, and the old style of politicking might not cut it for both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.
The state itself has the largest share of voters eligible to cast their ballots next week at around 3.7 million, more than a third of the 9.7 million voters registered in all six states.
In Shah Alam itself running for the Kota Anggerik constituency voters don’t seem to have a great choices with the incumbent Najwan Halimi, (who had allegedly made statements with racial undertones) in a three cornered fight with 37-year old businessman Mohamed Sukri Omar, 37, (PN-PAS) and lawyer Azad Akbar Khan, 35, (Muda). Sukri is also the Selangor PN and Pas Youth Chief.
Personally as a voter there I have not seen much from all three candidates, and the pickings seem to be disappointing enough that it is understandably demotivating to go to the polls.
However, the politicians contesting seem to go on their merry way, bringing out the big guns or well known secrets out into the open in order to sway votes.
Question is will the votes sway? Or most have already made up their minds?
Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian predicts there would definitely be a low voter turn out compared to GE15 of around 73 per cent.
“Maybe some have decided not to vote due to fatigue, or they just kind of not know the importance of state elections, which is highly likely.
“I feel there is definitely some kind of election fatigue, in all the states going to the polls, not just Selangor and these last few moments are crucial for the parties to convince people to go out and vote.
“Low turnout will effect either party though,” he told Sinar Daily.
Sivamurugan said the atmosphere seems ‘quieter’ as many have become fence sitters rather than show their affiliation with any coalition.
Federal Territories PKR Youth chief Mohammad Azfar Aza Azhar disagreed that the current lack of excitement for polls was due to election fatigue.
He said it was more likely because the voters already knew who they would be voting for once the ballot paper is in their hands.
“The state elections are happening just mere months from the general elections, and most probably people have made up their minds,” he told Sinar Daily
Azfar said maybe out of ten a group, only two to three people are still making up their minds. He added that it was unlikely low voter turnout would effect PH’s chances at the polls especially in Selangor.
Meanwhile, Iskandar Puteri Umno division member Yusof Musa said non-Malay voters would play the most crucial role in the state polls.
“I feel like their votes would be the deciding factor,” he told Sinar Daily
