No by-election poster war in Slim, a sign of the times

The Slim by-election campaigning is going digital as candidates turn to social media to communicate with voters.

TANJUNG MALIM: At the mention of an election campaign, what comes to mind to most people is a war of flags, posters and banners of the contesting parties all over the place – adding colour and excitement to the occasion.

However, that is not the situation in the Slim state constituency, which is having a by-election soon. It is pretty quiet there, despite today being the eighth day of campaign.

All three candidates contesting in the by-election – Tanjung Malim Umno chief Mohd Zaidi Aziz and two Independent candidates, lawyer Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi and former teacher S Santharasekaran – seem to have direct communication with the constituents.

They prefer holding small-scale ceramah and going to the ground to visit constituents, as well as using social media to campaign, via Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The approach is also in response to the Election Commission’s (EC) recommendation for them to comply with the prescribed SOPs to curb the spread of Covid-19 during their campaign.

Deputy director of the Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Kartini Aboo Talib said the war of posters and flags in election campaigns can be considered “old school”.

“Even without the poster war, the people know that there is an election campaign going on, voting will take place. The situation may not seem lively on the ground but it is lively in digital form, and this we have to accept as a new normal,” she said.

However, a check by Bernama found certain areas had campaign materials of the candidates, like in Slim River, Felda Besout and Trolak, and mostly by BN.

Digital campaign

Independent candidate Amir Khusyairi, who uses the tree symbol, has little campaign materials, while Santharasekaran, who is using the book symbol, has no flag or poster for his campaign.

Santharasekaran said he was focused on a digital campaign and wanted to avoid wastage.

In terms of campaigning, Zaidi is most active, with BN and Umno leaders helping him in the campaign.

Among those who went to the ground to help campaign for Zaidi were Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob; MCA president Wee Ka Siong, Higher Education Minister and Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad and Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

Amir Khusyairi’s campaign saw him getting help from former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz Mahathir, Maszlee Malik and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, as well as Pakatan Harapan leaders such as Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof.

As for Santharasekaran, he moves around in small groups, accompanied by friends.

The Slim by-election was called following the death of its four-term assemblyman Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib of BN, who died of a heart attack on July 15.

The EC has set next Tuesday for early voting, which will involve 277 voters, consisting of police personnel and their spouses, while another 22,815 ordinary voters will be going to the polls on Aug 29. - FMT