BN's non-politician strategy unlikely to yield victory in Kemaman - Analyst

SHAH ALAM - Barisan Nasional's (BN) strategy of fielding non-politician candidate in the Kemaman Parliamentary By-Election on Dec 2 is not expected to secure a win for the party, according to political analyst Datuk M Periasamy.

Periasamy attributed this to the strong "green wave" sentiment prevailing on the East Coast, particularly in Terengganu, which is anticipated to influence the by-election's outcome.

He highlighted that, unlike the other contenders, the Perikata Nasional's (PN)-Pas still holds significant sway over voters' choices in the region.

"East Coast voters prioritise the party that they believe can represent their voice and will, rather than individual candidates.

"The candidate's authority is not the primary evaluation factor; the party as a whole is.

"The green wave remains strong in the East Coast (Kemaman Parliament). PN-Pas still wields considerable influence, especially given the current situation.

"Economic challenges, the ringgit's depreciation, and even the Palestine-Israel issue will likely fuel voters' inclination towards a pro-Islamic party (PN)," Periasamy told Sinar.

Periasamy's comments come in response to a query regarding BN's strategy of nominating non-political candidates in Kemaman, following the rejection of its original choice, Umno Kemaman Division Chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, during the 15th General Election (GE15).

On Monday, BN announced that former Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Commander General (R) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor would be its candidate for the Kemaman Parliamentary by-election. The announcement was made by BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Menara Dato' Onn in Kuala Lumpur.

Periasamy further noted that, considering the prevailing circumstances, it would be challenging for BN to penetrate the green wave barrier, even with a credible candidate.