KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) needs to assess the effectiveness of PAS’s strategy to relocate thousands of out-of-state voters to Selangor ahead of the upcoming elections, ensuring Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) victory in the state.
Political analyst from the University of Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMCEDEL), associate professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi, told Scoop that if this mobilisation effort successfully shifts thousands of PAS voters from Kelantan and Terengganu to Selangor, PH must take the matter seriously.
“PH must pay close attention to the potential increase in PAS votes in marginal areas such as Sabak Bernam, Hulu Selangor, and Kuala Langat.
“These are areas where even slight changes in voting patterns could disrupt PH’s status quo,” he told Scoop.
Recently, two Selangor PAS leaders suggested that those registered as voters in other states but residing in Selangor should promptly transfer their voting addresses to the state.
Selangor PAS chief Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri and the state’s information chief Zurk Ahmad said that this move could increase the number of PN voters in Selangor, particularly in Malay-majority and rural areas.
Commenting further, Awang Azman noted that while PH should not panic, it must remain vigilant against the opposition’s strategy.
“In reality, the trend of out-of-state voters working in the Klang Valley while remaining registered in their hometowns, such as Kelantan and Terengganu, has existed for a long time.
“PH must evaluate how effective PAS’s appeal is, as not all out-of-state voters are willing to change their registered address purely for political reasons, especially since the process is somewhat complicated, and many voters may prefer to continue voting in their hometowns,” he said.
He also described PAS’s strategy as an indirect admission of the party’s difficulty in gaining traction among more progressive voters.
Such a move, which leans towards being “desperate”, he added, reflects the real challenge PAS faces in Selangor compared to voters in Kelantan and Terengganu, who are generally more conservative.
“PAS recognises that Selangor is a more heterogeneous state in terms of ethnic composition, with urban voters leaning towards PH, particularly PKR and DAP.
“PAS’s reliance on the Malay vote in Selangor may not be strong enough, especially in suburban and urban areas.
“The strategy of attracting out-of-state voters can be seen as an indirect admission that PAS struggles to gain traction among Selangor voters, who are generally more progressive compared to those in Kelantan and Terengganu.
“This move can be interpreted as a sign of ‘desperation’ to create a PAS wave in Selangor, which is otherwise difficult to achieve organically through the state’s existing voter base,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dean of the Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government (GSGSG) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Professor Rusdi Omar, said this strategy poses a significant risk to PAS-led state governments in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.
He explained that while PAS could potentially win Selangor, the party might end up losing in the three states.
Traditionally, he said, many residents of these three states migrate to Selangor for work but still consider their hometowns as their primary residence, which is why they have not changed their registered voting address and remain voters in their home states.
“The mindset of PAS supporters in Selangor differs from those in the three states. Many have higher education backgrounds and vote based on the candidate rather than strictly along party lines.
“These voters are not only in Selangor but also in Penang, Perak, and Johor. In these states, they benefit from various state government aid and initiatives. So, even if they vote in Selangor, they will not necessarily vote for PAS.
“The results of the last general election (GE) showed that the number of votes received by PH-BN (Barisan Nasional) and PN (Perikatan Nasional) from voters residing in the three states was not significantly different. However, when out-of-state voters returned home, the situation changed.
“These out-of-state voters ultimately determine which party wins in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, as they already know who they will vote for when they return home, which gives PAS an advantage,” he said. – March 21, 2025