Salahuddin’s campaign losing steam
A random survey by FMT shows that Malay voters are generally backing BN, thus making it an uphill task for Salahuddin to win.
Leven Woon, FMT
PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub’s campaign in the Pulai parliamentary constituency is faltering with polling only two days away.
His confidence of scoring a victory in his first venture in Johor looks increasingly dim because support appears to be swinging to Barisan Nasional.
A random survey by FMT in Pulai shows that most of the Malay voters interviewed, except those with land problems, are backing BN and its incumbent MP Nur Jazlan Mohamed in the race to the May 5 polls.
The survey done on May 1 found that Salahuddin has garnered some support in former squatter areas thanks to his championing of land rights, but his influence there is limited.
His support is quite strong among the Chinese and Indians, but some of them complained that they have yet to see him in person after more than 10 days of campaigning.
There are 100,695 voters in Pulai, of whom Malays made up the majority (47%), followed by Chinese (41%) and Indians (10%).
Based on rough calculations, even if Salahuddin manages to obtain 25% of the Malay votes, 70% Chinese votes and 50% Indian votes, he would only poll 36,611 votes, which is 5,619 shy from what Nur Jazlan would get (42,230).
To turn the table on BN, the opposition candidate would need another 10% swing of either Chinese or Malay votes to Pakatan.
He would then clinch the seat by a mere 886-majority vote (with 80% Chinese votes) or 1,843-majority vote (with 35% Malay votes).
‘Where is Salahuddin?’
Another way Salahuddin can capture the seat is to increase his vote tally by 5% across the board from all races, thus giving him 40,557 votes against Nur Jazlan’s 38,383.
The calculations are based on a voter turnout of 80%.
But Salahuddin may still find it tough to achieve this target going by the responses of the man in the street.
For Mohd Hairul Tomok, 38, who operates a restaurant in the urban area of Pulai, his vote is going to BN.
He said he would definitely vote for BN because it has been his family tradition to support the ruling coalition.
Moreover, he said, Nur Jazlan is someone who performs, citing an instance where he obtained funds for his business with the MP’s help.
And Salahuddin? Said Hairul: “ I have never seen him working on the ground before.”
Foodstall operator Mohd Farid Zulkifli, 29, and lorry driver K Mahindran, 45, also share the same views. They both praised Nuz Jazlan, describing him as an approachable man, who has helped solve many problems in their constituency such as getting damaged roads repaired.
“Look at Kelantan: PAS can’t even manage Kelantan well, so how can they run the country? There are so many Kelantanese who came to Johor to work,” said Farid.
Mahindran said he has no confidence in the Pakatan manifesto which promises to provide a number of things for free.
A businessman, who only wished to be known as Koh, 42, said he would not cast his ballot for Salahuddin although he is an opposition supporter.
“Yes, we must have more opposition members so as to have check and balance. But I have never seen him [Salahuddin] before. If he wants my vote, he should at least show up,” he said.
