Over 70 per cent BN voters migrate to PN

SHAH ALAM - Although Perikatan Nasional (PN) failed to win Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, there was a massive migration of Barisan Nasional (BN) voters especially among the Malays to the coalition.

Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin said that although the turnout in Pulai Parliament had dropped from 71 per cent in the 15th General Election (GE15) to 47.33 per cent, the number of PN votes had instead increased to over 9,000 votes.

He said that this gave an impression of a migration of BN votes to Pakatan Harapan (PH) by 23 per cent, BN to PN by 74.5 per cent and BN to independent parties by 2.5 per cent.

"The results of Simpang Jeram state assembly showed an increase in turnout from 54.72 per cent in Johor election 2022 to 60.85 per cent, thus giving the impression that there had been a shift in votes from BN to PH by 55 per cent, BN to PN by 40.5 per cent and BN to independent parties by 4.5 per cent.

"The increase in votes for PN candidates happened only in less than a year. In the next four years, if the Johor government is not careful, it is likely to see a bigger wave of PN. It is up to Umno-BN leaders to accept it or not," he told Sinar Premium.

Badrul Hisham said that the increase in the number of votes had given a positive sign for PN to win the next election.

In the by-elections, PH won both seats thus proving that the people of Johor had rejected the green wave.

Meanwhile, political analyst from Universiti Malaya Dr Muhammad Shamsinor Abdul Azzis said that PH's victory showed that PN had failed to gain the support of non-Malay voters and that Gerakan had failed to play the role it should have.

He said that PH's victory also showed that the green wave failed to penetrate PH and BN's strongholds in the West Coast states especially Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor unlike in the East Coast (Kelantan and Terengganu) and Kedah in the north.

"The results of Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections were not surprising even though PN had tried to create a surprise as it was said to have a chance of winning especially in Simpang Jeram state assembly because in terms of demographics, the composition of Malay voters surpasses other races.

"PN failed to win in Simpang Jeram because they only got the support of about 60 per cent of Malay voters, but the majority of non-Malay voters especially the Chinese, remained with PH," he explained.

Shamsinor added that PN's defeat also showed that voters in Pulai and Simpang Jeram were less influenced by national issues including the case of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being discharged without acquittal by the High Court from 47 charges of breach of trust, corruption and money laundering of Akalbudi Foundation funds last week.

"PH's victories in Pulai and Simpang Jeram also boosted the spirit of their machinery and grassroots leaders to help Umno defend Pelangai state seat in the by-election next month," he added.