PH confident in Jementah, PN smells opportunity for upset

 The Jementah seat is one of seven marginal seats, won with a 714-vote majority in the 2022 Johor election.

PH’s Ng Kor Sim is banking on her track record as the incumbent in Jementah, while PN’s Saifullah Abdul Wahab says PN has had a positive reception from voters.

SEGAMAT:

Pakatan Harapan (PH) is confident of retaining the Jementah seat, although Perikatan Nasional (PN) believes it has a chance of pulling off an upset in the DAP stronghold, citing the likelihood of a split in the non-Malay vote.

PH candidate Ng Kor Sim acknowledged that the three-cornered contest in the July 11 election in Johor, involving Saifullah Abdul Wahab from PN and See Ann Giap from Barisan Nasional, would pose a challenge due to the expected split in non-Malay votes.

With non-Malay voters making up about 57% of the electorate and Malays accounting for almost 42%, Ng, who won the seat by a 714-vote majority in the state election four years ago, said she hoped her track record as the incumbent would help secure voters’ support.

She also expressed confidence that voters had become more mature and were no longer swayed by racial sentiments.

“I agree this is a challenge, but as an elected representative, we must serve everyone regardless of race or age.

“Voters today are wiser. They are no longer easily influenced by unfounded sentiments,” she told FMT, adding that her campaign was focused on development and local needs, particularly those of younger voters.

“Everyone matters – Malays, Chinese, Gen Z, Gen Y. They want to see the changes we can bring, not debates about race or religion,” she said.

PN eyes upset

Meanwhile, Saifullah said PN saw an opportunity to spring a surprise, citing the positive reception it had received and Jementah’s relatively balanced voter composition.

However, he said the coalition would not rely solely on Malay votes to wrest the seat from DAP.

“We are reaching out to everyone in Jementah – Malays, Chinese, Indians, and others – to support PN,” he said.

Saifullah said Jementah’s voter composition required a more inclusive approach, as more than half of the electorate is comprised of non-Malay voters.

“We want to secure as much support as possible from non-Malay voters, while also winning the backing of Malay voters,” he said.

FMT has contacted See for comment on the contest for the seat. - FMT