BN eyes upset win in Bukit Batu as PN sits out

 MIC's R Kumaran says PN's absence and Bersama's entry could split the vote enough for BN to retake the seat from PH.

The five-cornered battle in Bukit Batu is expected to see either Arthur Chiong of PH or BN’s R Kumaran win in a close finish after Chiong’s narrow 137-vote win in 2022.

KULAI:

The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Bukit Batu in Johor believes the absence of a Perikatan Nasional candidate, coupled with Parti Bersama Malaysia’s entry into the contest, will give the coalition its best chance at wrestling the seat it lost to Pakatan Harapan (PH) in 2013.

R Kumaran, of MIC, who is contesting for the first time, argued that some of the 9,439 votes secured by PH’s Arthur Chiong in the 2022 election could be won by Bersama, which is co-led by former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli.

“On the other hand, PN, whose candidate obtained nearly 4,000 votes the last time, is not fielding a candidate.

“Even if we assume that 50% of those who voted for the two parties swing to BN, which amassed 9,302 votes previously, we can win comfortably,” he told FMT during a campaign walkabout.

Kumaran also said BN’s prospects would improve if Chinese voter turnout declines, amid speculation that some voters from the community may stay away from the polls.

He is in a five-cornered contest against Chiong, Bersama’s G Tamili, Muda’s M Premanand and independent candidate Kamaruzaman Ali.

Bukit Batu has 49,963 voters, with Chinese making up an estimated 52.2% of the electorate, Malays 37.8%, Indians 8.5% and other communities 1.5%. Chiong won the seat with a 137-vote majority in 2022.

Kumaran acknowledged that the campaign got off to a slow start but said momentum had improved in the second week, particularly among Chinese voters who had been “ignoring” them in the past.

“I only campaign on Johor’s economic success under current menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi with his ‘Johor Jaya’ theme, which is well received. I am confident that BN can retake the seat on Saturday,” he added.

Besides Kumaran in Bukit Batu, MIC is fielding three other candidates in this Saturday’s election. The other seats contested are Kemelah, Kahang and Perling.

In the 2022 election, MIC won three of the four seats it contested, namely Kemelah, Kahang and Tenggaroh, while losing in Bukit Batu. - FMT