Nurul Izzah needs to work on her Malay voters

Why am I am stressing on the Malay voters? Well, frankly it's because they make up 55.1% of the constituency and are the ones I wonder about. When I recently asked Nurul Izzah about Malay turnout at herceramah, she replied that it was surprisingly good. While I concur with her answer, I am somewhat sceptical about whether they are all voters in the constituency.

by Nurul Iman Dimyati, fz.com

 

ONE week of campaigning has passed, and Lembah Pantai continues to attract a lot of attention because of two individuals –  Nurul Izzah Anwar and Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin.

 

Both are well known, and touted as the candidates for the hot seat even before the dissolution of Parliament. Everyone knew the two politicians were set to face each other. And this was confirmed on nomination day, although there was also a little surprise in the form of independent candidate Rusli Baba.

 

Now, with a week to go to polling day, how are the candidates faring in terms of response from their constituents?

 

I will focus on Nurul Izzah, who is defending her seat.

 

Having been following her from even before nomination day, and now during the campaigning period, I can say that the PKR vice-president has the Chinese votes in the bag. She is also within reach of securing the majority of the Indian votes.

 

Her ceramah kelompok (group talks) are a great attraction for many non-Malays, especially the middle-class. They follow her talks closely and understand the national issues that she talks about.

 

They are also impressed by her accomplishments, such as proposing five private bills including on  restoring democracy, speaking up against abuse of public property, and raising more than 200 questions in Parliament – on matters concerning Lembah Pantai but also, of course, about national issues.

 

But, is this what all the constituents of Lembah Pantai want? Do all these efforts resonate well with the vast majority of voters, especially the Malays?

 

Why am I am stressing on the Malay voters? Well, frankly it's because they make up 55.1% of the constituency and are the ones I wonder about. When I recently asked Nurul Izzah about Malay turnout at her ceramah, she replied that it was surprisingly good. While I concur with her answer, I am somewhat sceptical about whether they are all voters in the constituency.

 

Last Friday, as I sat down in the surau of PPR Pantai Permai, attending an event of Nurul Izzah's to welcome PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, I looked around me and studied the people attending the event. 

 

Yes, the majority were Malays, but most of them were PAS supporters with a handful of Universiti Malaya students.

 

My scepticism grew as Nurul Izzah started to talk.

 

"We, with full commitment, will fight to the finish for justice for Kelantan that has been denied RM800 million in annual oil royalty. It doesn't matter that I'm an orang Pulau Pinang.

 

"I come to Lembah Pantai, I don't understand the Kelantanese lingo, but I can guarantee you that we will defend Kelantan to remain in PAS' hands, and ensure that if and when Pakatan Rakyat rules at the Putrajaya level, we will return the rights of the Kelantan people. and that of the people of other states," she said.

 

She spoke about issues that are not directly related to her constituency. It could be because it was not her ceramah per se, but a Nik Aziz event. He was there to launch the circulation of an open letter from a famous Islamic scholar, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, to the Malaysian people.

 

Still, I wonder what happened to all the many pakcik and makcik that I talked to prior to nomination day. They are residents of the Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) units – there are thousands of them in the area. Where were they, the Malay voters of Lembah Pantai?

 

This raises the question of whether ceramah and walkabouts are sufficient in wooing voters. Nurul Izzah needs more Malay support, not just from PAS supporters and UM students who may not even be voters in the constituency.

 

Will the presence of Nik Aziz boost Malay supports for her? Will Yusuf al-Qaradawi's open letter sway them?

 

She is facing an uphill battle. She is facing the might and machinery of Barisan Nasional. More importantly, she is facing an opponent who has done considerable groundwork – improving flats, helping relocate people, doing rounds in pasar malam almost every week, and making house to house visits.

 

An opponent who has wormed his way into the hearts of people in the PPR flats, into the hearts of Malays.

 

Like one makcik told me, Raja Nong Chik could be found walking around the area almost every week, especially at the pasar malam, and this started well before elections were called.

 

If not for Nurul Izzah's considerable efforts these last few months, I would say RNC already has the Lembah Pantai seat in the bag.

 

Now, we are almost at the last stretch, before the calm sets in and the people's voice will be heard. One week left for Nurul Izzah to woo the Malay voters, to garner a bigger majority and make a difference.

 

As I see it, Nurul Izzah has done quite well to attract Chinese and Indian votes but she really needs to work on her Malay voters.