Yoursay: Malay swing apparent as campaign goes into final lap

YOURSAY | ‘BN’s old tricks not working so well anymore, what are they going to do next?’

Harapan nearing threshold to take Johor - Merdeka Centre

Clever Voter: The BN strongholds of Sabah, Johor and Kedah are all under siege. Their strategy into Selangor and Penang has had little impact. It would be best for BN to retreat to protect rural constituencies, but time is running out for them.

It wouldn't surprise me if Perak and Negri Sembilan are starting to feel nervous. Within Kuala Lumpur, a strong indicator will be Lembah Pantai.

BN’s proven tactics from the past don’t seem to be working so well anymore. It will be interesting to see what they will do next. 

Anon3333: To Malaysians working in Singapore, your votes will be critical. Now is the time for all Malaysians to show their patriotic mettle.

We know it may not be easy, but whatever other commitments or difficulties you have, please prioritise this and come home to vote for a better Malaysia. Your country needs you.

Caught & Bowled: Though it will be difficult, Malaysians in Singapore must take an extra day off and come to Malaysia early to vote to avoid the two immigration checkpoints being clogged on May 9.

Your votes could decide the outcome of the 14th general election.

Anti Racial: I’ve been around Johor of late, and it looks like somebody is ordering the removal of Harapan’s PKR flags.

There could be two reasons for this. One, to agitate Harapan supporters to react so that they can be labelled as troublemakers, or two, BN is panicking after seeing Harapan support and popularity increasing by the day, against all odds.

Regardless of the reason, Harapan supporters should keep calm. Even without a single flag on display, don’t worry, just perform your duty by casting a vote for Harapan on polling day.

Abd Karim: If Johor falls, Umno and BN will have only two parties to blame – the Election Commission (EC) and the Registrar of Societies (ROS), who have probably done more for Harapan’s campaign than any of their leaders.

Anonymous 2450121480909934: There’s still the problem of the feudal mindset and ethnic-religious sentiment. This may take years to change, if it changes at all.

Pakcik Am: If Bersatu is so central for Harapan’s push for Johor, and president Muhyiddin Yassin is central to Bersatu, then it is he who should work harder to explain to those in the heartlands why he and Mahathir are now opposing Umno.

Rakyat Susah: Don’t give up, Harapan. There are plenty more fence-sitters just waiting to be courted. Keep up the momentum and soon Johor will fall.

Bogus Warrior: Umno knows the symbolic importance of Johor. If Johor falls - even if BN wins the election, which they will because of gerrymandering and access to taxpayer monies to fund their campaign – Umno will know they are finished.

Sarawakian: Many a general of eras past fled the battlefield when they saw the outcome in doubt, leaving troops to be routed.

I wonder if this will be the cowardly Malaysian Official 1’s (MO1’s) final act of betrayal.

Study: Expect hung assembly in Kedah

XED: Believe it or don’t, never mind what a previous state ruler thought, and never mind what some Malaysian judges decided in a strange way while magnificently ignoring parliamentary precedent and practice in various Commonwealth countries, a minority government is a legal option.

There are enough examples from countries like Canada and India. What a minority government has to do is to rule with caution, trying at times to divide an opposition which is larger, and seeking support from across the floor of the legislature as and when the need arises.

Some parties prefer to sit in opposition, giving support or withholding it from the minority government, while they wait for an opportunity to seize power, including by way of a vote of no confidence.

The constitutions, federal or state, in Malaysia do not provide for a legislature to be divided along party lines. There is not even mention of political parties in the constitutions.

In some more civilised countries, even if the ruling parties have comfortable majorities, they would try to seek support from the opposition.

As was said in the TV sitcom ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, “The opposition is in front of me, the enemy behind me.”

Anonymous_bb5fecb9: Something must be wrong if Kedahans vote an alleged thief to be their prime minister. Not when the most famous son of Kedah, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is vying to be the alternative choice.

Rakyat Susah: It’s too early to predict now until the weekend. Since former finance minister Daim Zainuddin came out to endorse Harapan, that could swing another two to three seats in favour of Harapan.

Maybe former PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s eldest son Nik Omar can even assist campaigning in Kedah this weekend.

Monkey See Monkey Do: It is hard to swallow the study as is. Maybe in an academic sense, it is somewhat plausible.

The sentiment of the older "BN safe deposit" generation is strong.

Quigonbond: Why would there be a hung assembly? Umno and PAS already share a bed.

Fair minded Senior Citizen: Spoiler PAS must swing Harapan’s way and be kingmaker. And get concessions for their efforts later in the day. BN will not be a good trade-off. - Mkini