Terengganu support for Pas eroding

Actions speak louder than words and going by that adage, the action that the Barisan Nasional government has taken since wresting Terengganu from Pas in the 2004 general election could stave off the opposition’s challenge in GE13, writes Satiman Jamin

Satiman Jamin, NST 

THOSE who think of Terengganu as an idyllic holiday destination without much to show in terms of development will be in for a surprise if they visit the state today.

From the state capital to the industrial hub in Kemaman, Terengganu has seen rapid transformation from various programmes and initiatives taken by the state government since taking over from Pas in 2004.

The RM5 billion Kuala Terengganu City Centre (KTCC) project aimed at transforming the state capital into a modern city while maintaining its traditional charm is already under way.

Covering a 7km radius from the Terengganu river estuary, KTCC will be a magnet for domestic and foreign investments and was projected to create more than 80,000 jobs by 2020.

Further south, the Kertih Biopolymer Park had attracted world giants from France and Korea to build a RM2 billion integrated bio-methionine and thiochemical plant, while the Teluk Kalong Industrial area in Kemaman will soon have its fourth steel mill.

Of projects that affect the rakyat directly, the drive to build 10,000 affordable homes initiated by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said are among the most important.

Despite the constraints of finding suitable sites and the rising cost of building materials, the state had managed to build 8,000 homes.

Ahmad has pledged to build 10,000 more homes in the next five years if BN is returned to power in the 13th General Election.

Based on the stellar performance of the state government over the last five years, BN has a good chance of not only retaining the 28 of the 32 state seats and six of the eight parliamentary seats but they could also retake some of the seats currently held by Pas.

In the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency, which state Pas commissioner Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut won in the 2009 by-election following the death of Datuk Razali Ismail who defeated Pas deputy president Muhammad Sabu by 628 votes in 2008, Pas may face an uphill battle.

This is because the support for Pas has eroded after the completion of the Ladang Gemilang apartments, which provided proper housing for squatters around the Kampung Ladang area.

Pas had banked on its supporters of the three state seats (Ladang, Batu Burok and Wakaf Mempelam) in Kuala Terengganu to win the Parliamentary seat in the by-election, so the dwindling support in key areas like Ladang could hurt its chances this time around.

The personality of candidates may also be a factor as Wahid is expected to recontest the Wakaf Mempelam state seat to pave the way for another candidate to contest the parliamentary seat.

Pas will be hard-pressed to find a candidate that can rally the voters like the five-term veteran Wahid and this factor could turn the tide against them.

With Pas having announced that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will be given a parliamentary seat in Terengganu and state PKR chairman Azan Ismail making way for the Pahang PKR chief in Indera Mahkota, Kuala Terengganu could be given to Azan to contest.

BN is likely to field a new face in Kuala Terengganu and if the party can find a candidate who is popular, it would be an uphill battle for Pas to retain the seat.

Even Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang may not be safe in his Marang stronghold as the Marang BN’s strategy is to wrest the seat by combining the strength of its four candidates in the Rhu Rendang, Alur Limbat, Pengkalan Berangan and Bukit Payung state seats.

Hadi is expected to stand in Marang and let a younger candidate contest in Rhu Rendang.

As party president, Hadi has not had the time to get close to his constituents over the past five years and this, combined with national issues such as the kalimah Allah controversy, has led to some Pas supporters in Marang to join Umno.

Although the handful of people in Kampung Jerong Seberang who joined Umno in February may not cause much of a dent to Pas’ influence in Marang, the fact that Umno managed to woo support from areas that were known to be Pas strongholds speaks volumes about the growing dissent among Pas supporters.

Hadi’s influence in Marang is not as strong as often projected in the media, as evident in the BN wins in Pengkalan Berangan and Alur Limbat in 2008.

Bukit Payung can hardly be called a Pas stronghold as the Terengganu Pas Youth chief Mohd Nor Hamzah won the seat with only a 115 vote majority.

Another state seat likely to go BN’s way is Manir, which Pas Dewan Ulamak chief Datuk Harun Taib won by 406 votes.

BN is likely to field popular local leader Yusof Awang Hitam, who put in a sterling performance, especially in providing services to the constituents.

His initiative to provide a free health clinic on alternate Saturdays is a hit with the people of Manir and the approachable Yusof could give veteran Harun a tough fight if they were to face off at the polls.

However, Pas has also managed to make inroads in some areas, especially Dungun.

State Pas deputy commissioner Satiful Bahri Mamat has increased his efforts to wrest the Paka state seat from BN after losing by just 344 votes in 2008 and could be a threat if he contests there again in GE13.

Kuala Nerus, Tepuh and Teluk Pasu have also seen increased Pas presence and BN must work extra hard to improve on the 430- and 462-vote majority in the two state seats. Unity within BN is also an important factor that will decide how the party fares in Terengganu this time.

As highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the launch of Gelombang Biru here recently, any rift among BN leaders and supporters must be eradicated if they want to win the state.

Factions within Umno had surfaced after Ahmad replaced Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as the menteri besar in 2008 and it is crucial that everyone puts that episode behind them and work together.

Ahmad’s announcement of his candidacy for the Kijal state seat on the day Parliament and the state assembly were dissolved on April 3 quelled rumours that he would not be contesting in GE13.

It also showed that Ahmad, who prefers to act rather than just talk about issues, is in charge and will lead Terengganu BN in its quest to trounce Pas.

And such clear signs of leadership is what BN needs to stave off the threat posed by Pas and Pakatan Rakyat during GE13.