State Polls: Permatang will be a close battleground
#Analysis
N09 Permatang Selangor
This year’s state election will be an interesting battleground to watch with lots of new ways of cyber campaigning seen during the course of the last 12 days. With the emergence of social media – Tik Tok, Facebook, and Youtube, we have seen how the candidates rush to utilise and engage with voters to get their votes and support for this Saturday’s August 12 polling day.
Nevertheless, in rural areas, especially in Permatang, door-to-door canvassing still prevails, small group meet up (ceramah kelompok), visiting community leaders, houses of worship, engaging with youths, musical and recreational activities are closely seen here in Permatang. Both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional candidates have been doing the best they could lobby and canvass for votes.
This N09 Permatang will see one to one battle between Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri aka Pak Ya and Perikatan Nasional’s candidate Nurul Syazwani Noh Omar.
This constituency has 30,848 voters comprised of Malay (64.4%), Chinese (23.4%), and Indian (11.8)%.
From 2008 till 2022, traditionally, it has been a battle between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan. It is always a close battle between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
This is the first time, yet unprecedented to see Pakatan Harapan and Barisan teaming up against Perikatan Nasional.
Perikatan Nasional has fielded Nurul Noh Omar, daughter of Tan Sri Noh Omar, a well-known political veteran from Umno who has some influence in the Permatang and Tanjong Karang area.
The former incumbent (ADUN) of this constituency is Rozana Binti Zainal Abidin. She is the wife of the Pakatan Harapan candidate Pak Ya. So more or less, Pak Ya also is a well-known and familiar face here in Permatang.
After the nomination, our media team has been closely following both sides Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional candidates’ ways of campaigning and meeting the voters.
In general, both candidates, starting their day from morning till late at night work tirelessly to meet, greet and hear the voters’ issues, problems, and grievances. Campaigning strategies rolled out by both candidates are equally balanced.
Reactions from voters
Overall, when our team meet the voters and business traders in the market, some of the traders do say the prices fluctuate and compared to last year, the prices are almost the same although the government is trying hard to intervene to control vegetable prices.
When asked about the track record of Selangor, most of the traders agree that price fluctuations are everywhere and the PH led Selangor to do their best to control the prices. The traders hope the new state government will double up their efforts in controlling the prices and more importantly, continue to take care of the livelihood of the people in the state.
At the same time, the day before yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the padi subsidy rate to RM500 per tonne. The paddy operators in Permatang were very delighted with the announcement and thanked Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
They also showed thumbs up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the PH candidate Pak Ya for raising this issue.
Polling Day
August 12 will be the deciding day!
When we scroll through our Youtube, Facebook, Tik Tok or even read Whatsapp messages, there has been a nationwide call from Pakatan Harapan politicians to come out and cast their votes.
The same goes for Perikatan Nasional candidates and politicians who are making the same call, urging the voters to come and cast their votes.
We have less than 48 hours before heading to the polls.
The winning factor could be determined by the voter turnout and if it is analyzed it will be a close and interesting battle to watch here in Permatang.
Additional Reporting – Md Faisal, Sheikh Kamal, Abd Rahman.
Edited – Dino and Ram
