Harapan’s silver lining: Gaining ground among Orang Asli

CAMERON POLLS | Pakatan Harapan may have lost the Cameron Highlands by-election by a majority of 3,238 votes, but they have gained some ground among the Orang Asli, a key demographic in the constituency.

By DAP's estimate, Harapan made a 256 percent gain in the nine Orang Asli-majority polling districts, compared to the 14th general election just eight months ago.

Notable spikes were seen in the five Orang Asli settlements in the Jelai state constituency.

Support for Harapan rose in Pos Titom by 34 percent, in Pos Lanai by almost 27 percent, in Pos Betau by 19 percent, in Pos Lenjang by more than 15 percent and in Pos Sinderut by 14 percent.

However, just like in GE14, the ruling coalition was trounced by BN in the four Orang Asli areas in Tanah Rata - Pos Terisu, Pos Telanuk, Pos Mensun and Pos Lemoi.

In a press conference at the coalition’s operations centre in Brinchang tonight, election director Wong Kah Woh highlighted the rise in Orang Asli support as a small win for Harapan.

"This is an encouraging result for the campaign workers, for DAP Pahang and DAP Cameron Highlands.

"We will continue our efforts to obtain more support from Cameron Highlands voters of all races," said the DAP Ipoh Timur MP.

Similarly, Harapan’s candidate M Manogaran said Harapan had made significant inroads into the Orang Asli areas where BN once dominated.

"Looking at the most interior Orang Asli places, we actually performed better.

"We have to continue working there, increase our presence there in terms of help given to them and working with them. We also will increase our work with the Orang Asli in (the) Tanah Rata side which we not perform equally well compare to Jelai.

"It is very interesting that the false conceptions about the Orang Asli have been broken, they can be won over (by Harapan)," he added when asked during the question and answer session afterwards. 

Meanwhile, Manogaran said he was also disappointed that BN had used the "race factor to their advantage" in the by-election. - Mkini