As elections near its end, the question is how will Johoreans vote?
Public apathy towards politics, confusion over political parties likely colours how Johoreans will vote this March 12. - Bernama Photo.
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While the inclusion of automatic voter registration and Undi18 are among the contributing factors to this issue, the high number of political parties, 10 in total, contesting in this state election will further divide votes and put pressure on seats facing multi-cornered fights.
With some 2.59 million voters are expected to vote this March 12, political observers have stated that the voting pattern for this state election is likely to mirror that of GE15.
The battle for the Malay heartlands
While the likes of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chest-thumping that the coalition could secure a simple majority of 29 seats or even more, party veterans and those working closely on the ground have a more conservative take than other Malay based parties such as Pejuang and Bersatu make headways into the heartlands.
“Prior to the 2018 elections, we have always counted on votes from Felda settlements to drive in the numbers but now we are concerned that votes from these areas will be heavily split. Votes from these settlements are crucial in at least 26 state seats and we need all of them to come in for BN.
“Bersatu and Pejuang are doing their best to make headways in Felda settlements in the Northern and Central region and observation from the ground looks like they are making some progress, which is very concerning,’’ said a senior party insider familiar with Umno’s campaign effort in norther and central Johor.
The main objective for all three of these Malay-based parties is winning the hearts and minds of some 200,000 Felda settlers located in 73 settlements in the state.
However, sentiment among the second generation of Felda settlers has shifted away from BN, as evident in the GE14 results.
Issues such as dilapidated housing, low or stagnant income, lack of employment opportunities and even assertions that there is a lack of attention given to Felda settlements are among the main concerns for the settlers.
In BN’s supposed absence, PN has made a push, placing their chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the hero by saving the federal agency.
This saviour narrative comes after Muhyiddin, who was the prime minister then, has relinquished some RM8.3 billion of Felda settlers' loan in July of 2021.
On the campaign trail, International Trade and Industries Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is also from PN, has touted that he had done the necessary to save Felda by tabling a White Paper in 2019.
He had also portrayed Umno’s Datuk Seri Najib Razak as one of the individuals responsible for the mismanagement in Felda.
To address these issues, BN politicians are quick to announce several initiatives to resolve issues among Felda settlers, including promises for better housing and development, a notion that many settlers complained they heard during elections yet never came to fruition.
While PN and BN take potshots at each other on who is the better folk hero, parties like Pejuang and PKR are also making headways in Felda settlements.
On March 3, Pejuang Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made his first appearance in the state election in Felda Ayer Hitam, where Pejuang flags outnumber those of BN and PN combined.
“We are confident that Pejuang will dominate this PDM (voting district) as Tun has a lot of pull here and most people here still remember the good old days under Tun’s administration,’’ said Ayer Hitam Felda settler who wished to be known as Mohd Armin.
Even PKR is making headways into Felda settlement in places like Endau and Mersing.
Prior to the 2018 election, PKR has received a lot of help from Bersatu penetrating into Felda settlements and the residual effect can still be seen today.
Confusion over political parties
The Johor state election also sees 239 candidates, with 10 political parties and 16 independent candidates, vying for 56 seats.
This led to seats like Tiram and Kempas both seeing seven corner fights and putting pressure on each candidate to canvas votes more rigorously.
Some candidates like PKR Layang Layang hopeful Dr Maszlee Malik also briefly commented that the 14 day campaign period “is not enough” to effectively canvass votes.
But to add to the confusion, despite being under the PH coalition, PKR is contesting under their own logo.
“I don't get it, PKR and PH is on the same side, right? But why different logos? If their objective and principles are the same then they should contest under a single banner. People might get confused, especially the elderly.
“I really pity the elderly here as to who they should vote for. Some even think that Tun Dr Mahathir is still with Bersatu,’’ said a Rengit registered voter who wished to be known as Ahmad Tarmizi.
Apart from PN, PH, PKR and BN, parties like Muda, Warisan and Parti Bangsa Malaysia is throwing their hat into the ring for the state election.
There is also concern that Muda and PKR shares similarities yet seems to be on opposite sites at times, with both parties clashing in the seat of Larkin.
However, Muda has insisted that they stand with PH, with many senior coalition leaders seen campaigning for the young party.
Public apathy towards politics
While political campaigns can be a whirlwind of rhetorics, with speakers shouting on what they can offer to the voters, it is often detached from realities on the ground.
Voter sentiments so far show a real apathy towards politics in general, with many ordinary Malaysians, are concerned that their votes will be taken for granted again as elected lawmakers could simply switch sides.
“It is fun to hear all of them speak during the campaign, everyone will have a good laugh here and there but it doesn't mean that people actually care.
“At least for me and my group of friends, we don’t know who to vote for even. They could just jump here and there and the people will be made to look like idiots by voting them in,’’ said 34 year old, K.Ganapathy, who is a registered voter in Machap.
The notion of voting in a new government will provide better political stability, regardless of who expressed the assertion, is also deeply in doubt as the public are concerned about a hung assembly where no coalition holds a simple majority to form the government and political upheaval in the state could be extended.
While Johoreans have more trust towards the state’s ruler to manage such a complex situation, trust towards political parties appears to be at an all-time low.
