Voters stay cool even as Melaka campaign gets vicious
PETALING JAYA: With a week left before Melaka voters go to the polls, the election campaign has started heating up and is likely to get more vicious, but public response remains subdued.
Campaigning is expected to become uglier in the last 3 days, says socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi.
He said Umno would train its guns on Bersatu chief Muhyiddin Yassin who had been the first to open fire two days ago, slamming his rival party during an online ceramah.
Awang Azman said Umno would “use their warlords to attack the former premier from all angles until he runs out of ammunition”.
A challenge by Umno veteran Shahrir Abdul Samad for Muhyiddin to instruct two of Bersatu’s assemblymen in Johor to withdraw their support for the state government is likely to be only the start of Umno’s attacks, he said.
In the last three days before polling, PH is likely to enter the ring to attack both sides, giving no room for neither coalition to reply.
“There will be a lot of name calling, scathing remarks, and personal attacks in an effort to gain the upper hand,” he said.
Muhyiddin will be the main target of BN and PH as they try to gain the trust of voters fed up with prolonged lockdowns and the poor handling of the Covid-19 crisis.
However, BN should attack PH which was its actual competitor in Melaka as PN has no chance of winning. “The infighting between PN and BN will be to the benefit of PH as it escapes criticism,” he added.
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said mudslinging is expected to worsen. “Each coalition will go all out to distinguish themselves from the other two by any means,” he told FMT
Despite all the sniping, BN and PH are likely to form a state government if either party fails to secure a majority of the 28 seats being contested.
While political leaders are busy trying to tarnish each other, Melaka voters are not excited over the elections, according to a PH campaign worker.
“Businessmen are so worried. There seems to be genuine concerns over the elections, especially after the Sabah elections, when Covid cases later increased.
“They are concerned over future lockdowns as they have just started reopening their businesses and are looking forward to busier times during the December holidays,” he said.
He said voters were lukewarm about all three coalitions.
“It’s only outsiders who came here who are excited, but for the voters, they just want this to be over without affecting their livelihood,” he said, adding that he has not seen such a cold response towards all political parties before.
The general public seems to regard polling day to be just like another day – a cause of concern to political parties jittery over a possible low turnout.
With Covid-19 restrictions placing limits on house calls and coffee-shop ceramahs, he said the carnival atmosphere of political elections was almost non-existent, and it is hard for all parties to share their excitement and positive vibes with voters.
“Even though people say BN has the upper hand, anyone could win because voters are not looking for who is better at criticising another. They want to know how politicians can improve their livelihoods,” he said. - FMT
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