With Puad gone, tide could turn against PKR in Batu Pahat

GE14 | In the old days, when Umno was in its youth, much of the party's grassroots leaders and supporters consisted of teachers.

But in the party's birth state of Johor, it was teachers who contributed to the downfall of one party warlord, Batu Pahat Umno chief Mohd Puad Zarkashi, in 2013.

Multiple Umno grassroots sources told Malaysiakini that teachers and their families revolted against Puad, who was then deputy education minister, over the alleged transfer of teachers who either supported the opposition or slighted him.

"He thought because he was a deputy minister he could transfer teachers at will, that's why he lost, a majority of teachers did not support him... BN lost because of its candidate (Puad)," a local Umno veteran who wished to be known as Kamran told Malaysiakini.

Kamran also claimed that Puad had made enemies with many grassroots leaders, removing those who dared question him, and not giving out projects to contractors.

Puad was also described as arrogant and snobbish by many of his detractors.

His public image, however, appears to have improved after 2013, with many Batu Pahatvoters telling Malaysiakini that Puad is a friendly individual who gives out a lot of aid.

But it was too late for the Batu Pahat Umno chief, as the party's top leadership decided this time around to field local Wanita wing chief Haliza Abdullah (photo) in the parliamentary seat instead, citing popularity issues for the local Umno division.

Now that Puad is gone, and not contesting as an independent, the local Umno grassroots are hoping that these local teachers and disgruntled party members will vote for Haliza and BN once again.

"I'm sure those voters who were upset with BN in 2013 will come back to vote for us now," Senggarang Barat Umno polling district chief Saari Bidin said.

It also appears unlikely that Puad could muster enough support to sabotage Haliza internally.

"He might try to sabotage (Haliza)... but it won't have a big impact, not everyone likes him, and Umno's influence is stronger," said Batu Pahat voter Zulhaimi Rosli.

If the swing of formerly disgruntled Umno supporters occurs, it could be bad news for PKR which won the seat unexpectedly with a 1,732-vote majority in 2013.

The 'Chinese tsunami'

It is not clear how many votes PKR received in the previous general election were in protest.

When asked about the protest votes, Puad responded by highlighting the 'Chinese tsunami'.

Puad claimed that over 40,000 Malays voted in Batu Pahat, of which he received 80 percent.

But of the 34,000 Chinese votes, he said he only received less than 15 percent, with PKR bagging the rest.

"If (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin Yassin contested in Batu Pahat then he would have lost, as he lost in all 14 Chinese polling districts in Pagoh," Puad told Malaysiakini.

PKR, however, is confident that it can retain any teachers who voted for them in 2013, with the party's Batu Pahat secretary Khuzzan Abu Bakar saying teachers are hoping for a change in the federal government to boost education standards in the country.

Parachute candidates

But PKR also has other factors working against it, namely an allegedly absent incumbent, and a new candidate who locals are not familiar with fighting against Haliza – who, together with her family, are well-established in Batu Pahat.

Multiple voters told Malaysiakini that they had hardly ever seen incumbent PKR candidate Idris Jusi (photo) in the past several years, an issue that Batu Pahat PKR fears could hurt them in the polls.

"We have to understand that voters in rural and semi-urban areas like their elected representatives to be on the ground to solve their problems, but this had not happened," Khuzzan said.

Idris is a Batu Pahat native, but had reportedly not lived in the area for decades prior to being fielded in 2013.

Now PKR has replaced him with former Penang deputy chief minister Rashid Hasnon, who was born and raised in Muar, but like Idris, spent much of his adult life outside of Johor.

Despite being considered a big name in the north, Rashid is still relatively unknown in Johor, which could pose a problem among the Malay electorate.

During a ceramah featuring Rashid (photo) near a Malay neighbourhood in Taman Damai, Penggaram – a DAP stronghold – most of the 150 people in attendance were Chinese, while the 20-odd Malays present did not know who the former deputy Penang chief minister was.

Khuzzan, who is contesting the Semerah state seat in neighbouring Parit Sulong, said some locals have even thought that he was the Batu Pahat candidate.

Help from a local leader

In such an environment, many local opposition leaders are hoping that Rashid, who has brought his own team with him, will reach out to the local grassroots to help promote him to locals.

At a coffee shop in a more affluent part of Penggaram, a group of old-timers including two Umno veterans who are sympathetic to Harapan, are especially hoping that Rashid will make use of former Batu Pahat PKR chief Syed Hamid Ali.

Syed Hamid is the younger brother of former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali, and is a well-known local activist who is fondly known to many as Pak Habib.

"You should wear a PKR shirt, Pak Habib, and they should take you campaigning so that you can introduce Rashid," one of the Umno veterans, who declined to be named, told Syed Hamid.

Handpicked by Anwar Ibrahim to lead the local PKR division, Syed Hamid was widely touted to contest the Batu Pahat seat in 2013 before being replaced at the last minute with Idris.

The former Universiti Malaya student union president had not campaigned for Idris, but is prepared to help Rashid this time around.

"When Rashid came to see me, the first thing I said was, 'What can I do to help you'," Syed Hamid (photo) said.

The 75-year-old, who moves with small steps, said campaigning is best left to the young, but is willing to give brief talks at ceramah if given the opportunity.

Rashid's campaign manager Mujahid Hasanudin, told Malaysiakini that there are plans to include Syed Hamid in the campaign.

As for Rashid himself, he is aware that being known to the locals is important in Batu Pahat, and hopes that being raised in neighbouring Muar, and being able to speak Javanese will give him an advantage with the local Javanese community.

Mujahid said some 30 percent of local polling districts in Batu Pahat, especially in Rengit, are Javanese villages.

The PAS factor

However, one final obstacle for PKR is the PAS factor, as the Islamic party’s ulama chief Mahfodz Mohamed is also vying for Batu Pahat.

PAS has been the traditional BN opponent in Batu Pahat's Senggarang and Rengit state seats - key constituencies for Malay support.

PAS lost both constituencies in 2013, but bagged 44 percent and 32 percent of the vote in Senggarang and Rengit respectively.

"PKR's victory in 2013 was due to Pakatan Rakyat, not just on PKR's name alone," Mahfodz (photo) told Malaysiakini.

Umno veteran Kamran, meanwhile, claimed that many Umno members had also jumped to PAS prior to 2013 after being sidelined by Puad.

PAS had previously won Senggarang uncontested in 2004 due to a technicality on BN's part.

Malay votes are more crucial in Batu Pahat in this election, as the Malay electorate has increased from 52 percent in 2013 to 55 percent, while Chinese voters have decreased from 46 percent to 44 percent. -Mkini