Perikatan Nasional Shifts Focus to Malay and Indian Voters in Penang
Perikatan Nasional (PN) is shifting its focus in Penang to Malay and Indian voters in hopes of winning a slim majority of seats in the next state election, according to a well-placed source.
Recognizing the Struggle to Capture Chinese Votes
The source said PN recognises that it would struggle to capture Chinese votes in the state — as evidenced by its performance in the 15th general election (GE15) and 2023 state election when its multiracial component, Gerakan, failed to muster Chinese support for the coalition.
Discernible Shift in Support among Indian Community
On the other hand, the source said the opposition coalition had noted a discernible shift in support among Penang’s Indian community, particularly at the Sungai Bakap by-election in July 2024.
"The Sungai Bakap by-election revealed a significant swing of Indian voters towards PN. We hope this strategy of focusing on Penang Malays and Indians will consolidate support from the Indian community while maintaining our Malay voter base," the source told FMT.
PN’s Performance in Sungai Bakap By-Election
PN first wrested the Sungai Bakap seat, once a PKR stronghold, in the 2023 state election. A by-election was called last year following the death of assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff. PAS’s Abidin Ismail retained the seat for PN with an enhanced majority of 4,267 votes, up from the 1,563 previously.
Lower Voter Turnout among Chinese Voters
The Sungai Bakap by-election also saw a lower overall voter turnout, with only 47% of Chinese voters casting their ballots, primarily attributed to dissatisfaction with the unity government. Pundits suggested that the results show the Chinese community would more likely sit out an election rather than switch their allegiance to PN.
Lacklustre Gerakan, Bickerings with PAS
Although PN made substantial inroads in Penang at the 2023 state polls by winning 11 seats (PAS: 7, Bersatu: 4), Gerakan was soundly beaten across the board except in one constituency. In the contest for Bayan Lepas, party president Dominic Lau secured 13,573 votes, with Amanah’s Azrul Mahathir Aziz winning by a 1,889-vote majority.
However, Lau’s election campaign revealed tensions between Gerakan and PAS, with his nomination protested by several state PAS leaders. The PN deputy chairman was also told by a PAS leader to leave a ceramah, after he showed up uninvited. Top Gerakan and PAS leaders have also locked horns over a range of issues in the past two years, including over the involvement of breweries in raising funds for Chinese-medium schools.
Attracting the Indian Vote
To attract the Indian vote, the PN source said the coalition was looking at the possibility of elevating members of the Indian community to leadership positions in Penang. One suggestion being considered is to put an Indian leader forward as the "poster boy" for the next state election. However, the source said the proposal was still at a "very early stage" of discussions.
However, the move is likely to face strong resistance from PAS leaders, who may insist that the post be tied to the performance of each component at the polls. "We will have to see which party from the coalition wins the most seats. I think it’s only fair for that party to lead the state," Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim told FMT.
Conclusion
Perikatan Nasional’s shift in focus to Malay and Indian voters in Penang is a strategic move to consolidate support and win a slim majority of seats in the next state election. However, the coalition’s efforts to attract the Indian vote may face resistance from PAS leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is PN shifting its focus to Malay and Indian voters in Penang?
A: PN recognises that it would struggle to capture Chinese votes in the state and is looking to consolidate support among Malay and Indian voters.
Q: What is the strategy to attract the Indian vote?
A: The coalition is considering elevating members of the Indian community to leadership positions in Penang and putting an Indian leader forward as the "poster boy" for the next state election.
Q: Will PAS leaders support this move?
A: The move is likely to face strong resistance from PAS leaders, who may insist that the post be tied to the performance of each component at the polls.