SHAH ALAM - The first week of the 17th Sabah state election campaign since nomination day last Saturday has been described as lukewarm, with new candidates still trying to find their footing as they actively meet voters.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah political analyst Associate Professor Dr Syahruddin Awang Ahmad said the heat of the democratic process was barely felt even though posters, flags and billboards were actively displayed across all areas.
“Voter sentiment is still moderate. They are not excited for this state election despite the surge of issues on social media. In fact, more than 80 per cent of party tents are only visited by party members and leaders, not by the public in those areas.
“The enthusiasm we see on social media does not match what is happening on the ground. With the unpredictable weather, people may prefer to watch campaigns via livestreams, but that does not guarantee strong engagement in the first week,” he told Sinar.
The researcher from the Borneo Electoral and Geopolitical Studies Unit said observations showed that no single party, whether national or local, stands out in the campaign.
“No party is leading at this point. When you speak to the public, they are more concerned about their daily struggles and are tired of recycled promises like water, electricity and other basic issues.
“Besides that, no party has a ‘wow factor’ that makes them worthy of being chosen and no prominent leader has been highlighted as a potential Chief Minister of Sabah,” he added.
Syahruddin said party machinery was expected to ramp up efforts in the second week, especially after manifesto announcements when they begin breaking down their campaign promises in detail.
“If the election atmosphere remains lukewarm in the final week of campaigning, voter turnout may stay low at around 60 per cent,” he said.