Without split votes, Bersatu faces uphill task in Semenyih

SEMENYIH POLLS | Bersatu is going into the Semenyih by-election with an uphill task in retaining several key polling districts which it had won in the last general election, due to a split of votes between Umno and PAS.

One such polling district is Bandar Tasik Kesuma, which contributed the fourth largest number of votes out of the 23 polling districts in GE14.

In the 2018 general election, Bersatu captured 48.35 percent of the votes, while BN got 30.22 percent, PAS 16.84 percent and PSM 3.54 percent in the polling district.

If PAS supporters were to back BN this time around, Bersatu, which will be contesting under the Pakatan Harapan banner, will be neck-and-neck with BN.

This means every vote will count and even the slightest voter dissatisfaction at the Pakatan Harapan government would cost Bersatu the key polling district, which is a relatively new township located about 6km southeast of the main Semenyih town.

A straw poll of the area found that PAS supporters were leaning towards BN, while there was also some disillusionment with the Harapan government.

Nazri Mohd Fadzil, 54, a PAS supporter, believes that BN can regain the seat this time.

Nazri Mohd Fadzil says Semenyih has always been a BN stronghold.

"It looks like BN can win. This has been a BN stronghold; even PAS was a new entrant in the last general election," he said.

BN lost the Semenyih state seat for the first time in history in the last general election.

Bersatu managed to garner 23,428 votes, while Umno got 14,464 votes, PAS 6,966 votes and PSM 1,293 votes.

The March 2 by-election was called following the passing of its incumbent Bakhtiar Mohd Nor.

Meanwhile, BN supporter Juria Shahrudin intends to stick with the former ruling coalition.

"Whatever you say, I'm for BN. I'm for Umno as it is for Malays, religion and the constitution," said the 75-year-old.

Juria Shahrudin is of the opinion that Umno is for Malays, religion and the constitution.

These are among the BN and PAS supporters that Bersatu needs to convert or risk losing to a unified opponent.

PAS is sitting out the by-election and its position on helping BN has been vague, but PAS grassroots have mobilised in force to assist BN's candidate Zakaria Hanafi against Harapan's Muhammad Aiman Zainali.

Also contesting in the by-election are PSM's Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul and independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng.

Apart from trying to convert some PAS and BN supporters to its side, Bersatu is also facing a challenge in retaining its existing support - those who voted for the then opposition for the first time in the last general election.

For some in the area, the shine has come off the new ruling coalition.

Jamilah Ahmad Shukeri, 50, who makes kuih to sell for a living, complained that the cost of living had not come down.

Jamilah Ahmad Shukeri says the high cost of goods is affecting her business.

"Prices are going up and I'm feeling it with my business," she said, lamenting the cost of cooking items.

Meanwhile, 64-year-old Zabri Tek is upset that Harapan has not banned ride-hailing services.

"We supported them because they promised, but ride-hailing services have not reduced but increased," said the former taxi driver, who pointed to his vehicle which has been repainted into an ordinary vehicle.

A frustrated Zabri said he does not intend to vote but expects Harapan to win.

"I've always voted in my entire life but I'm lazy to do it this time, I'm fed up," he said.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had indicated that his party will focus on bread and butter issues in Semenyih, on top of explaining issues of race and religion raised by BN.

Apart from national issues, the Bandar Tasik Kesuma folk also have a local complaint - the absence of a mosque in the Malay-majority township.

Shafie Omar is questioning why there isn't a mosque in Malay-majority Bandar Tasik Kesuma.

 

Shafie Omar, 57, said local residents have waited for more than a decade for a mosque in the area.

"We need to use a surau instead. The construction of a mosque has yet to happen after 13 years.

"It's a Malay-majority area, why isn't there a mosque?" he said.

The polling district comprises 76.7 percent Malays, 17.57 percent Indians and 5.05 percent Chinese.

With 12 days of campaigning left, Bersatu will need to address these voters if it is to retain a key polling district.

A total of 54,503 voters are eligible to vote in the March 2 by-election. - Mkini