Disillusioned voters a concern for PH, says Kelana Jaya MP

Wong Chen says talk about disillusioned youth is worrying as a low turnout on election day could be detrimental to the opposition.

PETALING JAYA: Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen has expressed concern over the number of voters disillusioned with today’s national politics and the political parties.

Although many have expressed concern regarding disillusioned youth, Wong Chen said it was more than just the youth he was worried about.

“Youth apathy is a problem but I am more afraid that our overall base may erode if our supporters no longer believe in hope of change. Increasingly, people are viewing politics as just dirty and riddled with corruption,” he told FMT.

Wong Chen was responding to FMT’s question regarding challenges Pakatan Harapan may face in defending the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat.

PKR first won Kelana Jaya in the 11th general election (GE11) when the party’s candidate Loh Gwo Burne managed to defeat the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Lee Hwa Beng with a slim majority of nearly 53% of the votes.

In GE13, Wong Chen defeated BN’s Loh Seng Kok and independent candidate Toh Sin Wah by a landslide, taking nearly 67% of the votes.

Wong Chen, however, said the disillusionment would most likely affect voters who previously voted for Pakatan Rakyat and who might choose to stay at home on polling day, thus helping the BN.

He said the reason for this was the PPBM and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad factor.

“Many still cannot understand or accept the role of Dr M in Pakatan Harapan.

“Some are upset with the allegations of corruption in the opposition and if we do not engage and convince them then they may choose to stay home during GE14.

“This is why I fully support Invoke. The transparent financing and candidate asset declaration are steps to convince our supporters that there is hope for change and that many reformists have not given up.” -FMT