Young voters key to Pakatan victory in GE13, says Mat Sabu

By Boo Su-Lyn

July 02, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is confident young voters will deliver the pact at least seven states in the next general election, says PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.

The popular leader, better known as Mat Sabu, said the federal opposition plans on retaining Kelantan, Penang, Selangor, Kedah and winning back Perak.

Mohamad says ‘young people are our friends’. — File pic

He added that PR intended to take over Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and will deliver a “shock” in Johor, although he declined to elaborate if the “shock” meant seizing the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold or increasing PR’s seats.

“Young people are our friends; young voters are more inclined towards change. All races love us now,” said Mohamad with a smile in a recent interview with The Malaysian Insider.

The popular ceramah speaker noted a “very strong” presence among the youths at PR programmes in Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Johor.

“We only need four seats to control Negri Sembilan...we can take nine seats to get Terengganu,” said the former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee.

According to the Election Commission, 70 per cent of the 4.2 million unregistered voters are between the ages of 21 and 40, and about 450,000 Malaysians turn 21 each year, the eligible age to vote in the country.

The number of voters being registered is also picking up pace, with some 12 million on the electoral rolls ahead of a snap election widely speculated to be held early next year.

Young people were a key voter segment that swung in favour of the opposition in Election 2008, carrying it to record gains.

The loose pact swept to power in five states and denied BN its customary two-thirds majority of Parliament when it won 82 parliamentary seats.

Mohamad stressed that PR’s losses in a recent string of by-elections — namely Hulu Selangor, Galas, Batu Sapi, Tenang, Merlimau and Kerdau — were not a measure of its future performance in the general polls.

“During by-elections, we fight against government machinery. (But), during general elections, the battle is more focused on local candidates,” said the popular grassroots leader.

As long-serving Kelantan Mentri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat turns 80 this year, Mohamad said Kelantan remained the Islamist party’s stronghold no matter who helmed the state.

Mohamad pointed out that BN could only win Selangor through electoral fraud as the ruling coalition aims to recapture the country’s richest state at any cost.

He also expressed confidence in making inroads in Felda plantations, which are traditionally seen as BN’s vote bank, and cited PAS’s championing of settlers’ rights.