‘Sure win’ in Selangor not assured unless 85% turnout, DAP warns

PH supporters may choose not to vote thinking that victory is assured, a DAP leader has warned.

(FMT) – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) candidate for Klang, Charles Santiago, has warned against instilling a confidence among the coalition’s supporters, while at the same time ignoring factors such as gerrymandering, multi-cornered fights and a mid-week polling day.

“The impact of the gerrymandering is still unclear but one thing for sure is that it favours Umno. As for multi-cornered fights, we cannot underestimate the danger of PAS splitting votes,” he told FMT.

“Yes, you have to rile up the audience, but you cannot sound so confident and you must impress upon supporters that these are desperate times.”

He said voters might draw the conclusion that PH would win the state, and many would choose not to vote believing that “victory is sure”.

Santiago said in the Port Klang state seat, areas which the then Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won in 2008 and 2013 were now part of Kota Raja.

They include Bandar Botanic, Bukit Tinggi, and some parts of Pendamar Indah.

Meanwhile, in the Bandar Baru Klang state seat, Santiago said some 30,000 voters had been brought in from Meru in Kapar and Kota Anggerik in Shah Alam. These voters, said Santiago, had previously ensured the opposition’s victories in Shah Alam and Kapar.

He said some 8,000 Shah Alam voters have also been moved to Berkeley in Klang.

“Meanwhile, Khalid Samad won Shah Alam with 10,000 votes in the last election. Now the 2,000 left may also be split because of PAS.

“So what’s the point of winning Bandar Baru Klang and Kota Raja if we’re going to lose Port Klang, Kapar and Shah Alam?” asked Santiago.