3R issues risk giving Malay voters ’emotional fatigue’, says analyst

 Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya says a party is likely to be judged by its performance and how it resolves issues, such as increase in the cost of living.

Bread-and-butter issues will matter more to voters than 3R rhetoric, said analyst Awang Azman Pawi. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Election campaigns that rely on race, religion and royalty (3R) rhetoric could lead to Malay voters suffering from “emotional fatigue”, an analyst said.

Awang Azman Pawi.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Malay voters were likely to assess a party based on its performance and how it resolves issues, such as the increase in the cost of living.

He said rural voters and those aged between 18 and 25 view extreme 3R narratives negatively, especially when day-to-day issues remain unresolved.

“If political parties harp about how one’s race, religion or the royal institution is under threat at every election, while there has been no changes to the lives of the people, they would lose credibility.

“Voters are bound to ask, After all the hard-hitting speeches, what is your solution to salary, housing, employment, flood, water supply and transportation-related issues?” he told FMT.

He said the silent majority who have financial and family commitments are more pragmatic and would want a stable government as well as an elected representative who attends to their needs.

“While the opposition may win the comment section with fiery rhetoric, coalitions like Barisan Nasional can will at the polls if they project a composed, confident and high-performing image,” he said.

He was commenting on former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan’s remarks that voters today seem to be leaning towards leaders who project composure, credibility, and restraint.

According to Shahril, voters are less receptive to fiery rhetoric and grand promises, often described locally as “sembang deras” or “sembang kencang”, and are instead placing greater value on leaders who appear more grounded.

Azmi Hassan.

Separately, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the “sembang kencang” or “sembang deras” culture should not be outrightly dismissed, as some of what is said fact-based.

“Sometimes ‘sembang deras’ is needed to catch the attention of voters at a ceramah.

“If every politician spoke with the same tone, even when presenting the facts, they would lose out to politicians who spewed fiery rhetoric,” he said.

He said politicians should catch the attention of their audience with their ‘dynamism’ before trying to win over the crowd with ideas and policies. - FMT