No trouncing for PH in Johor this time, says PKR man

 

Akmal Nasir, the PH candidate, says the challenge this time around is getting voters excited about the elections.

JOHOR BAHRU: A pre-election holiday and the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions means Pakatan Harapan need not fear a trouncing in Johor as in the state elections in March, says a PH candidate.

Akmal Nasir of PKR, who is defending the Johor Baru parliamentary seat, said a low voter turnout in March had led to PH’s defeat.

But now, Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, borders are open and three states have declared a pre-election holiday, allowing Johor voters to return home to cast their votes, Akmal said.

In March, Barisan Nasional won 40 of the 56 seats in the state assembly. PH won 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional (3) and Muda (1).

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More than 100,000 Johoreans work in Singapore and many were stranded there until borders were reopened on April 1.

Akmal said support for PH in Johor’s capital remains high, especially among Chinese voters. “Over 80% of Chinese voters seem to support PH but the issue in the state polls was the low turnout.”

The challenge this time around is to get voters excited about the elections. However, the mood on the ground is better than in March.

On the Malay vote, which is dominated by BN and PN, Akmal said not all Malays subscribed to racial politics.

“It should be quite clear to all voters here that there is only one multiracial party.”

He also said many Malay voters were concerned about the economy and the integrity of leaders, and this was where PH was “the better choice”.

The Johor Bahru seat will be a four-cornered fight between Akmal, Mohd Mohtah Yacob (PN), Johan Arifin Mohd Ropi (BN), and Mohd Akhiri Mahmood (Pejuang). - FMT