Final, big push for outside voters
The reality on the ground is that the Sungai Limau-bred Malay youngsters working in other states favour developments. This could only bring good tidings to BN whose politics of development is its favourite agenda at every election.
The Ant Daily Team
PAS, now hard-pressed to retain the Sungai Limau state seat come polling day on Nov 4, is banking on the young voters working in other states to turn the tide in its favour.
With decision day fast approaching, the Islamist party is not too sure it can hold the fort against the relentless Barisan Nasional (BN) onslaught.
In fact, after days of campaigning, there is a sinking feeling that the party is losing ground to a resurgent BN.
The earlier optimism in the PAS camp seems to be evaporating as the battle to keep the bastion is turning into an uphill task. In the May 5 general election, PAS won the seat with a 2,774-vote majority. The question now is: can it win with a bigger majority?
However, both camps cannot be certain that they have already got the votes all sewn up in their bags.
Nevertheless, PAS is taking no chances. In the few laps remaining, it is going for the final, big push. It is playing up the track record of the late Datuk Seri Azizan Razak to keep the seat for a sixth term, and also working hard to woo the estimated 3,300 outside, mostly young voters seen as the key to victory.
These voters are considered as “fixed deposit” just like in Kelantan and Terengganu during every general election.
Recently the party conducted a meeting in Kuala Lumpur for the benefit of these outside voters but only 16 turned up. This has got the PAS top leaders worried because it could signal dwindling support.
Not to be outdone, Kedah Menteri Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir also held a meeting with these voters in Kuala Lumpur recently to woo them to come back and vote for BN.
Although both parties may get an inkling of the degree of support they can expect from these Sungai Limau-born outsiders, it is still difficult to read the minds of this important bloc who will determine the outcome of the by-election.
In the May 5 polls, some 11,800 young and new voters cast their ballots, which is a substantial vote-bank that PAS can ill-afford to lose.
But political observers have noted that the message PAS is trying to convey to these young minds is not getting through. The Islamist party is harping on the evils of development, which it says will destroy the kampung way of life.
PAS leaders have pointed out that if BN wins, it will build an oil refinery in the nearby coastal district of Yan, which will ruin the life of the padi farmers and fishermen. But BN is keeping mum on this project.
The reality on the ground is that the Sungai Limau-bred Malay youngsters working in other states favour developments. This could only bring good tidings to BN whose politics of development is its favourite agenda at every election.
