GEORGE TOWN – A Penang Umno division leader has rubbished claims from various factions within Perikatan Nasional that Umno supporters in Sg Bakap continue to reject the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan (PH) partnership, saying that more have come out to support the PH candidate this time.
Speaking to Scoop, Nibong Tebal Umno chief Rashidi Zinol revealed that internal research on polling results in Malay-majority districts of the Penang state constituency showed a 20% increase in support from local Umno members for PH in Sg Bakap during this by-election compared to the state election last year.
“Therefore, anyone suggesting that fewer Umno voters support PH this time is mistaken.
“We (Umno) have fulfilled our role and contributed to an increase in Malay support for PH. This is a fact.
“However, we fell short of the 35% target (increase in support) set earlier,” said Rashidi, who is also the Sg Acheh assemblyman and a member of the Penang executive council.
PAS had attributed their candidate Abidin Ismail’s success in retaining the Sg Bakap state seat by a majority of 4,267 votes to the backing of local Umno supporters.
Abidin Ismail received 14,489 votes, defeating PH candidate Joohari Ariffin, who garnered 10,222 votes.
Rashidi also said that the Nibong Tebal Umno division will strategise on regaining Malay support in Sg Bakap at a retreat following their annual general meeting on July 21.
The division plans to address issues such as Malay economic development and housing needs to attract the community’s support towards the Barisan Nasional.
Lack of enthusiasm among Umno members?
Meanwhile, an Umno grassroots leader told Scoop that the lack of enthusiasm among Sg Bakap Umno members to vote for PH contributed to the party’s loss in the by-election.
The leader, who requested anonymity, mentioned that in a locality he oversaw with 400 Umno members, only 241 voted for PH.
He added that visits to the homes of party members revealed that while some households pledged their support for Joohari out of respect for the party’s decision to partner with PH in Putrajaya, others were uncommitted.
“We interpret uncommitted as zero support. This is why Umno failed to secure full backing from its members,” he said.
The grassroots leader further remarked that the by-election results clearly demonstrated that the unity government lacks solid support from the Malays and that PKR cannot attract significant Malay votes.
“Umno members are unhappy with the party’s involvement in the unity government, and this sentiment was evident throughout the Sg Bakap campaign,” he added.
He called for a major overhaul of the Penang Umno leadership to regain the support of Malay voters in the state, as it is currently being rejected by its members. – July 13, 2024