BN supporters in Penanti have a choice
(Bernama) A contest in the Penanti state by-election on May 31 will leave supporters of the Barisan Nasional (BN), which is skipping the by-election, with the choice of voting for any independent candidate or staying away from the polls, according to a political analyst.
Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, deputy dean of the School of Social Sciences of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said that as such it was likely that the percentage of voter turnout will see a drastic drop.
The BN is not contesting in the by-election, the nomination for which is on Saturday, as it feels the vacancy “is not provided for in the constitution” because assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) resigned for the purpose of taking up post-graduate studies.
Dr Sivamurugan said he expected many BN supporters to stay away from the polls owing to their loyalty to the coalition.
“The support for an independent candidate may be in terms of protest votes because the BN is not fielding a candidate. They would not want to support the PKR. As such, they may support an independent candidate,” he told Bernama.
PKR is expected to field its Penang deputy chairman Dr Mansor Othman, 56.
Former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah and a businessman, Mohd Saberi Othman, have indicated interest in contesting as independent candidates.
Several BN supporters said they have yet to decide whether to vote in the by-election.
“I want to see who the independent candidates are. We want a representative who can champion our cause. I may not vote at all,” said Zakiah Bakar, 27.
A 65-year-old woman who identified herself as Yeoh said she would only support a candidate she felt could help the constituents.
“We do not want a repeat of what has happened. The assemblyman resigned all of a sudden. Let’s wait until Saturday (nomination day). Let’s see who the candidates are,” she said.
Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow said the party felt that the elected representative must be one who could serve the people.
“Let’s see who the candidates are. For sure, we do not want our supporters in Penanti to vote for the PKR candidate,” he said.
He said the party would discuss with the other BN components on the stand the BN supporters should adopt in the by-election.
Meanwhile, Umno is leaving it to its supporters in Penanti to decide on what they felt was the best choice for their future.
Penang Umno Liaison Committee secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said the party had not issued any directive to its supporters on the by-election.
“It’s their choice. However, don’t tell me our supporters will vote for the PKR. We cannot blame them if they do not go to the polls,” he said.
The Penanti state constituency has 15,384 electors. In the general election in March last year, Mohammad Fairus garnered 7,346 votes to beat Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid of the BN who polled 5,127 votes.
