Ampang - battle between Zuraida's popularity and Harapan's brand

 

GE15 | More than two years ago, Zuraida Kamaruddin recorded a video with her supporters beaming and saying goodbye after being fired from PKR.

Now, after moving to Bersatu and later establishing her own party, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), the three-term incumbent in Ampang appears to be facing a bumpy ride in defending her seat under her new party.

Although there is no denying that Zuraida's name has its own brand in the constituency, the Pakatan Harapan logo that gave her a big victory in the last election is back, with the coalition fielding a new candidate as her opponent - PKR’s Rodziah Ismail.

Zuraida who won comfortably with a majority of 41,956 votes in a four-cornered clash in 2018 will be tested by the votes of urban Malays and non-Malays, especially the Chinese there.

According to think tank Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar, those in Ampang are well-informed voters who follow political developments including important points in the country's political history such as the Sheraton Move, in which Zuraida was one of the main characters in the movement.

"So it is difficult for her to fend off accusations that she was one of the individuals who betrayed the people’s mandate to Harapan," he told Malaysiakini.

Pakatan Harapan’s Ampang candidate Rodziah Ismail

He explained that the clash between Batu Tiga assemblyperson Rodziah and Zuraida is also aimed at testing the strength of the candidate and the strength of the party's support, giving an advantage to Harapan which previously received high support from non-Malay voters, especially urban Chinese, and Malay voters who are more rational in their voting patterns.

In GE14, Malay voters comprised 56 percent, Chinese (35 percent), Indians (nine percent) and others (one percent).

To introduce Rodziah, she was accompanied on her walkabout programme in a Chinese-majority area by a Mandarin-speaking spokesperson dubbed 'Luo Shi Ya', which means knowledgeable and elegant.

This is in contrast to Zuraida, who needs no introduction as she has held ministerial posts in three different administrations over the course of four years, and insisted that she has a strong name there.

"The people of Ampang know me, when they see Zuraida's name they usually don't even remember the logo. That's why I said Zuraida has become a brand in Ampang, so I use my brand as an MP and a minister," she said.

Zuraida speaking with constituents in Ampang

However, Rodziah rebutted Zuraida’s statement as she viewed Zuraida as someone who rode on a Harapan-PKR ticket in the last polls.

"People are angry with her now because she supported PKR at that time.

"We don't deny that she served three terms but there is one thing she forgot - she betrayed the brand that got her the job," said Rodziah.

PBM too new to make an impact

Although the bright purple PBM flag is flying in many places around Ampang, it is difficult to make people familiar with the party.

Malaysiakini's survey with some voters in Ampang also supports the Ilham Centre's observation that Zuraida is a veteran who is more familiar to the locals, even if they cannot easily remember the name of her new party.

"I know she is not with Harapan, she has a new party - is it Parti Barisan Malaysia?," said a massage therapist who only wanted to be known as Kak Lin when asked if she knew the name of the party but got it wrong.

Ampang voter Danial Zafri

Danial Zafri, 26, who is also not sure about PBM's full name, said that although Zuraida has not been able to show excellent performance despite serving three terms, he would still like an old face as they understand the ins-and-outs as well as the problems there.

"Now in Ampang, all the faces are new. I just know Zuraida, (and) the Harapan candidate.

"The new face has to be seen first. If she has held another place and did well, I think the acceptance will be okay," said Danial, who will vote there for the second time.

A 76-year-old who only wanted to be known as Yap, candidly said his vote was for Harapan, pointing at a flag in front of him during the 'Jelajah Ehsan Rakyat' programme at the NAYC basketball court.

"I will vote for Rodziah, I will vote for a new person. Zuraida used to be a Harapan person.

"I only remember the flag and (candidate) number one," he said pointing his finger between the poster of Rodziah and Zuraida's face in the area.

Pejuang's fringe battle

Describing it as a hot seat with fierce competition, Hisomuddin said this is because the voting pattern in Ampang is more focused on the candidate factor, with the party factor secondary in the voter's evaluation.

"So, here it depends more on how Zuraida uses the influence of the three terms she has served, to maintain her popularity, or test her popularity against the strength of the party-based support for Rodziah.”

Rodziah on the campaign trail

However, Hisomuddin reminded that the aura of Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi from Pejuang should not be taken lightly considering that the PhD holder in Environmental Systems from the Shibura Institute of Technology, Japan - who wants to be known as 'Dr Banjir' (Dr Flood) - might be able to steal Malay votes that previously went to Harapan.

"That may also give Zuraida a small advantage, trying to balance the dominant influence that Harapan has in the Ampang area," he said.

Apart from Zuraida, Rodziah and Ashikin, Ampang will see a nine-cornered clash involving Ivone Low Yi Wen (BN), Lai Wai Chong (Warisan), Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif (PN), M Raveendran (independent), Muhammad Shafiq Izwan Mohd Yunos (independent) and Tan Hua Meng (independent). - Mkini