Pas dedicates all resources to Mahkota by-election

KLUANG - Pas has dedicated all its resources to the Mahkota by-election, says the party’s vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad.

He said Pas was fully committed to ensure victory for Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar also known as Coach Haizan.

"We are all out in Mahkota to help PN candidate, Coach Haizan. All of our party leaders are focused entirely on this by-election," Idris told Sinar Daily, expressing his party’s confidence in their candidate.

He said Pas has typically stepped aside for Bersatu in seats previously contested by Bersatu in past general elections, such as in Mahkota.

"Usually, if the seat belongs to the incumbent from Bersatu in the last general election, we give it to them," he added.

When asked whether Pas was happy and satisfied with Haizan contesting in Mahkota, Idris replied in the affirmative and expressed confidence in the candidate's abilities.

Meanwhile, O2 Research Malaysia chief researcher Anis Anwar Suhaimi stressed the importance of appealing to a broad demographic in Mahkota.

"To maximise its chances in the Mahkota by-election, PN should focus on appealing to all age groups rather than relying on a specific demographic," he said.

He warned against over-reliance on a single age group, given the dynamic and competitive nature of Malaysia’s political landscape.

While he acknowledged that 52 per cent of voters were under the age of 39, Anis pointed out that voters aged 40 and above still formed a substantial portion of the electorate.

"The voting tendencies across different age groups have become more complex and competitive compared to earlier eras, such as during the two-party contests between BN and Pakatan Rakyat, where the generational divide in political preferences was more distinct," he said.

In this context, he said PN’s decision to field 61-year-old Coach Haizan was seen as a calculated move.

He said the candidate's age positioned him well to connect with older voters, while his background in sports, particularly football, gave him a unique advantage in appealing to younger voters, especially men who were passionate about the sport.

"This dual appeal could be a critical factor in reaching a broad spectrum of voters, ensuring that PN's campaign resonates across multiple age groups," he added.

Anis also said the decision to place a Bersatu candidate in Mahkota, aligned with the coalition’s seat allocation strategy.

He said the main reason for placing a Bersatu candidate in the Mahkota by-election was based on the seat allocation and the fact that Mahkota has traditionally been contested by Bersatu.

Mahkota, a highly competitive seat, held strategic importance for PN, with both Bersatu and Pas playing distinct roles in their respective constituencies, he added.

Anis noted that Bersatu tends to perform well in mixed seats like Mahkota, while Pas dominated Malay-majority areas.

However, he stressed that Pas’ role in supporting Bersatu in Mahkota remained crucial, given Pas’ powerful grassroots machinery.

"Bersatu is seen as Umno's primary competitor within the conservative Malay political ideology. Hence, placing a Bersatu candidate allows the party to maintain momentum as an alternative for Malay voters," Anis added.