Bersatu leader says study on Johor Malays cannot be generalised

Bersatu supreme council member Rais Hussin has said that the recent study results on his party in Johor cannot be used to generalise the issue.

“The results of a study is highly contingent upon its methodology.

“This study can be used to decipher issues but cannot be generalised,” he said in a statement today.

A recent phone survey by analyst Wan Saiful Wan Jan found that 85 percent of Johor Malays were not in favour of DAP, which in turn affects Bersatu.

The analyst had explained that rural Malay voters fear the strength of DAP in the state and see a vote for Bersatu as a vote for DAP as both are in the same coalition.

However, Rais said that other studies have shown that there have been “tectonic changes” in the Johor political landscape with Bersatu’s entry.

“I would focus on the issues raised (by the study) but will not look deep to generalise the studies as DAP has indeed made serious inroads in Johor and amongst the Malays, given the new coalition of the willing that includes Bersatu, Amanah and PKR,” he said.

Demonising DAP is Umno's hallmark

He also said that “demonising DAP” is a hallmark of Umno/BN campaign when the general election nears.

But the real problem is actually Umno/BN as DAP is not the one with scandals like 1MDB, Felda and Mara, he said.

“People are realising this now,” he said.

Apart from that, he said Pakatan Harapan also needs to build the right narratives for Johoreans that the coalition stands for reforms, justice, inclusiveness, progressiveness and moderation.

These narratives are incorporated into Harapan’s manifesto, he said, which will be unveiled completely in the near future.

Calling the manifesto the “book of hope”, he said it was written after much research and constructive engagement with all key stakeholders.

It has five central themes, 10 promises within the first 100 days of Harapan’s administration and 50 promises within five years of Harapan’s administration.

“It is all-encapsulating with the primary focus on the rakyat and the reform agenda,” he said.

Crafting the narrative and conveying it clearly to the people is critical to debunk Umno/BN’s conventional propaganda that thrives on the race and religion card, he said.

“We must frame our own narratives to the people instead of engaging with Umno/BN’s race and religion card.

“They can be divisive as they will always be before general elections, but we will be a unifying force of the people to trigger the people’s tsunami against Umno/BN.

“This is not about Harapan versus Umno/BN. This is about the rakyat versus Umno/BN,” he said.- Mkini