KUALA LUMPUR – The fiery campaigns of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election have concluded, revealing little change in voter sentiment despite the influx of new faces and promises from the candidates.
On Saturday, Pakatan Harapan (PH) comfortably retained the state seat and successfully denied Perikatan Nasional (PN) bragging rights to its so-called “green wave” in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency.
However, the outcome was not solely determined by the candidates’ merits but also by various factors, including existing voter preconceptions, the legacy of the previous representative and strategic party manoeuvres to rally their supporters.
Pang boosted by DAP, Umno big guns
PH’s Pang Sock Tao, the victorious candidate, capitalised on the legacy of the late assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong, leveraging sympathy votes and emphasising continuity in service to the constituency.
Pang was bolstered by senior DAP figures such as Gobind Singh Deo, Teresa Kok, Teo Nie Ching and Wong Siew Ki, who provided guidance and support throughout her campaign.
In a display of unity government collaboration, Umno actively assisted PH in grassroots outreach, reinforcing Pang’s efforts while she was campaigning in other areas.
Key Umno figures like Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said were prominent features of Pang’s campaign.
No MCA? No problem
Campaign dynamics notably shifted from previous elections, with a subdued banner and flag war indicating evolving strategies from all sides.
Despite expectations that PN would secure victory due to a predominantly Malay voter base, PH’s success was buoyed by robust Chinese voter turnout. Even the non-participation of MCA throughout the 11-day campaign had minimal impact on the DAP candidate.
With a generally low turnout of 61%, one would have expected PN to win as the majority of voters were from the Malay community.
According to data compiled by Institut Darul Ehsan, 88.4% of Chinese voters cast their ballots for PH, with 9.7% supporting PN, 1.2% backing the independent candidate and 0.6% choosing Parti Rakyat Malaysia.
While Chinese voters turned up in full force, the poll saw a relatively lower participation among Indian voters, who were said to be facing election fatigue, given that both the state and general elections had taken place within two years.
PAS conspicuous by its absence
Umno’s concerted efforts to sway Malay voters contributed significantly to PH’s victory, overshadowing PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut’s campaign.
The Bersatu politician was seen as struggling to receive assistance from the bigwigs of his coalition, and he was mostly left to his own devices when handling the media and the public during his walkabouts.
With barely any PAS presence in sight to match Umno’s leadership and machinery on the ground on the campaign trail, the response towards Khairul among locals was rather lukewarm.
The 54-year-old Khairul may have obtained five-digit votes with the help of PN’s reputation, considering he was scrutinised over a string of issues, including his educational background, allegations of loan shark debt and a “carbon copy” manifesto.
Ultimately, voter disillusionment with repetitive promises prevailed, highlighting the need for substantive change beyond rhetoric. – May 16, 2024