NIBONG TEBAL, July 3 – With just days left until the Sungai Bakap by-election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) finds itself grappling to sway the constituency’s Malay voters, a significant 77% of whom supported Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the last state polls. Despite vigorous campaigning efforts by federal ministers and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari over the weekend, many Malay voters remain unconvinced.
One of the key challenges PH faces is the perception among voters that their candidate, Joohari Ariffin of PKR, lacks the political finesse compared to PAS’s Abidin Ismail. Residents expressed familiarity and comfort with Abidin, describing him as a more relatable figure due to his longstanding presence in the community. PH’s election machinery, especially PKR, is intensifying efforts in the final stretch, targeting crucial districts like Puteri Gunung while grappling with strong PN support in areas such as Sungai Kechil and Abidin’s hometown, Sungai Duri.
With voter turnout pivotal to the outcome, PH strategists are focusing on mobilising younger voters and addressing pressing local concerns, including the complexities of targeted diesel subsidies and recent water tariff hikes. The Sungai Bakap constituency, comprising a majority Malay electorate, will decide its new state assemblyman on July 6 following the passing of incumbent Nur Zamri Latiff (PAS) in May.
