Streram: If Harapan fields Malay candidate, it may not win Rantau

The Rantau by-election in Negeri Sembilan scheduled for April 13 stemmed from the election petition filed by Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr S Streram after he was prevented from filing his nomination papers during the last general election.

The question is whether the coalition would field him again, especially in the wake of two successive by-election defeats in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih, which witnessed a swing in Malay support for the BN candidates.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Streram believes that Harapan, especially his party PKR, would not be pressured into a game of optics to name a Malay-Muslim candidate for Rantau - which is the stronghold of Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan - based on the current sentiment.

On the contrary, he said such a move could backfire given the significant presence of non-Malay voters in the state seat and a Malay candidate might not be able to win their support.

“So, I am confident that I would be fielded again. I am not worried,” he said.

Streram was asked to comment on PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's statement that the party has several potential candidates in mind.

Umno and PAS, which are on the verge of establishing a formal alliance, rode to victory in the last two by-elections on the narrative that Harapan is not safeguarding the interests of Malays and Islam.

The two parties also accuse the Malays in Harapan of being subservient to DAP, including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Despite the repeated denials from Harapan, the rhetoric appears to have gained traction among the Malay-Muslim electorate.

Winning the Malay vote

Meanwhile, Streram said he has been working hard on the ground with regard to all the communities, including the Malays.

Commenting further on the demographics of the seat, he said Harapan performed well in Malay dominated areas in the past.

“If we can get the support of about 70 to 80 percent of non-Malay voters, then about 10 percent of Malay voters is sufficient (to tip the scales in Harapan's favour),” he added.

Streram is confident he would be able to wrest the seat from Mohamad Hasan, who is the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, and three-term Rantau assemblyperson.

In the last general election, Mohamad won the seat uncontested, but the result was later declared null and void.

According to statistics, the registered voters in Rantau comprise Malays 54 percent, Chinese 19 percent, Indians 27 percent and others one percent.

Rantau is one of two state seats under the Rembau parliamentary constituency, whose incumbent MP is Khairy Jamaluddin.

Following the Semenyih by-election, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali emphasised the need for Harapan to fulfil its bumiputera agenda without feeling apologetic. -Mkini