Pang will pull through in Kuala Kubu Baharu, say analysts

Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao would be able to pull through even though majority of the Malay voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu are supportive of the opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional.

“At least 70 percent of the Malays would support PN but it is not enough,” UTM political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali told Harapan Daily.

“There are 15 to 20 percent of moderate Malays. They will support PH.

He said this when asked to comment on the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

It is a four cornered fight involving PH’s Pang Sock Tao of the DAP, PN’s Khairul Azhari Saut of Bersatu and two other candidates on May 11.

The support for Pang among the Chinese community he said, is solid.

“I expect 85 percent of the Chinese community to support Pakatan because of the Allah issue and also because Pas is seen as intolerant to them,” he said.

The Allah issue refers to the controversy surrounding KK Mart and Verns brand recently.

Indian voters however may swing the pendulum in determining the winner, he said.

“The state government may have overlooked them. The MIC within BN is not influential in the current government. A 30 to 40 percent swing may lead to PN winning the seat.

Harapan Daily also spoke USM based political scientist Dr Sivamurugan Pandian specifically on the Indian voters sentiment.

There were two issues.

One, Urimai has hit the ground in boycotting PH.

Two, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement telling Indians to not be jealous of the Malays who are accorded Bumiputera rights hit the nerves of the Indians.

“A low turnout may happen. Those supporting PH may even register a protest vote. Having said that, local issues take precedence. They want a representative to address local issues.

Sivamurugan pointed out the importance of party machineries in addressing the issues to the voters as vital.

“National issues will have an impact but it will depend on the machinery.

“The last five days of campaigning is important for the machinery to manifest and manipulate issues.”

Senator Datuk Sivaraj Chandran meanwhile told Harapan Daily that Indian women are more likely to vote compared to Indian men.

“The men ask a lot of questions when they are approached. The women meanwhile are more open to the campaign,” said the independent senator.