Mahathir is opposition’s star power for votes in Kedah

(FMT) – Singapore daily reports on Pakatan Harapan’s uphill battle for Kedah, despite having former prime minister and Kedahan Mahathir Mohamad at the helm.

Pakatan Harapan may face an uphill battle in its efforts to seize Kedah from Barisan Nasional in the next general election (GE14), but it is hoping voters will stand by an old star in its quest for victory, Singapore’s Straits Times reported.

The opposition coalition is said to be pulling out all the stops to try and win the hearts of rural Malay voters in the state, more so with former prime minister and Kedahan Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the helm.

One Kedah resident, Abitullah Daulat, 39, told the Singapore daily that he believes Mahathir can help turn his life around. He said his RM1,800 salary working as a deliveryman barely covered his monthly expenses.

“I have to pawn my wife’s jewellery for food, utilities and our baby’s milk too.

“That is why I want Mahathir back as prime minister. He will bring change. He must not let Kedah people and Malaysians down,” Abitullah was quoted as saying.

In the last general election held in 2013 (GE13), Prime Minister Najib Razak used the draw of Mahathir and his son, Mukhriz, promising to make the latter state menteri besar if Barisan Nasional (BN) regained Kedah from the then Pakatan Rakyat state government, led by PAS.

However, despite his strength in Kedah, there are questions if the Mahathir factor would be enough when GE14 comes around.

This is mainly because of the three-cornered fights which are expected to take place at almost every state and parliamentary constituency there.

This is based on statistics from GE13, which showed that most Kedahans voted for the Umno-led BN or PAS.

Two voters whom ST spoke to reflected the views of the majority of Kedahans.

Rice farmer Mahesah Omar, 54, who resides in Ayer Hitam said he would vote for any BN candidate from Umno, just as he had done in past elections.

“I have received fertiliser, pesticide, a padi mower from them. They fixed my leaky roof too.

“My family has been voting Umno for generations, so we are more familiar with them,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, in a neighbouring village, a staunch PAS supporter spoke of how he and fellow supporters of the Islamist party viewed any vote as a test of their faith.

“After I die, God will ask if I chose infidels or true Muslims as my leaders on earth. So PAS is my top choice,” house builder Fauzi Ramli, 45, told ST.

As far as the opposition is concerned, however, they believe that with a strong alliance comprising Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR, Mahathir’s PPBM, DAP and Amanah, comprising former PAS leaders, PH will be able to tip the scale in its favour.

According to Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan, the support of non-Malays and urban dwellers, as well as issues such as high living costs, the weak economy, corruption and the scandal-hit 1MDB, will give them a fair fighting chance.

“However, the fear of losing Malay political power to ethnic Chinese and Umno’s firm hold over rural female voters will make it very difficult for PH to make a confident claim on Kedah at this stage,” he was quoted as saying by ST.

To counter the race issue, Kedah PKR chief Azman Ismail said it was possible for PH to win a simple majority of 22 state assembly seats and eight parliamentary seats in Kedah by focusing on bread-and-butter issues.

“Our Achilles’ heel will be if we play to the gallery on issues of race and religion,” Azman told ST.

Currently, the parties in the opposition pact hold eight state assembly seats and four parliamentary seats.