Monsoon may dampen PAS’s chance of bigger majority in Kemaman, says think tank

 

PAS’s Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (left) will take on BN’s Raja Affandi Raja Noor in a straight fight in the Kemaman parliamentary by-election tomorrow. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The head of a think tank says the monsoon may dampen PAS’s chance of securing a 30,000-vote majority in the Kemaman by-election tomorrow.

Ilham Centre’s Hisomuddin Bakar said despite a “heavyweight” like Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar contesting for the parliamentary seat, voters would not be inspired to come out to cast their ballots.

“A 65% voter turnout is good enough, although their (PAS’s) majority might be reduced,” he told FMT.

Samsuri is involved in a straight fight with Barisan Nasional candidate Raja Affandi Raja Noor, a retired general.

The by-election is being held after a ruling by an election court which nullified Perikatan Nasional’s win in the constituency in last year’s general election (GE15) over bribery claims.

The seat had been won by PAS’s Che Alias Hamid with a majority of 27,170 votes over his nearest rival, Umno’s former menteri besar Ahmad Said, who contested on a BN ticket.

Last month, PAS election director Sasnusi Nor said they were aiming to win the seat with a majority of 30,000 votes.

Hisomuddin also noted that the campaigning by PAS has been less intense, due likely to the party’s confidence and the cold shoulder young voters have given BN.

Many decided not to turn up for BN ceramahs, he said, and there were no major issues that could be played up.

“And based on feedback from the ground, the prime minister failed to capture the audience at a ceramah recently when he spoke on national issues,” he said.

Kemaman PAS chief Che Alias Hamid also said the main challenge for the party was the monsoon season.

He said PAS was banking on the return of voters residing outside Terengganu.

“We are working hard to persuade outstation voters to return,” he said, adding that they could help PAS secure a 30,000-vote majority.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Umno Youth chief Tengku Haphiz Tengku Putra said the party was focusing on the young voters, who he said were more emotional and easily taken in by PAS’s tactic of pitting one camp against another.

“So, we need to correct this. The narrative we are pushing is for voters to think objectively,” he said. - FMT