A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.
– James Freeman Clarke, American minister, theologian and author
Today is the nomination day for the candidates in the six state elections in Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
The candidates have been announced by major contesting parties. Barisan Nasional (BN) was the first to unveil its candidates, followed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and most recently, by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
There are pro and cons to the timing of candidate announcement. When it is done early, it will give time for the candidates to lay the groundwork for their campaign allowing for their machinery to operate to its fullest potential.
However, this also gives room for the opponents to make last minute changes and introduce an element of surprise to the mix.
Traditionally, parties would leave it late when it comes to announcing their candidates for this exact purpose – the surprise element as well as ironing out kinks, internally within the party itself.
Some pacifying would need to be done especially for those who were vying to be candidates but was not chosen to avoid them sabotaging the party’s election machinery. This has happened many times in the past.
Unveiling the candidates at the last moment, a day or two before nomination day, would leave little room for protests or pushbacks that would require a switch in candidates.
This is what Perikatan has done. However, there are still issues. In Selangor, protests were made by the Bersatu division over the candidate in Batang Kali.
In Penang, similar protests were made by PAS over the candidacy of Gerakan president in Bayan Lepas.
All is not well too in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) camp. In Penang, there were infighting within the DAP over the list of candidates.
Apparently, those who were dropped were quick to attack a senior party leader believing the individual to be the hidden hand in the candidate selection.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, a senior figure in Penang, was among the names who were dropped.
According to him, the reason for axing several DAP incumbent assemblymen in Penang was due to them supporting Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to remain in the state’s top post.
For months, there were rumours over internal machinations aimed at returning party chairperson Lim Guan Eng to the Penang chief minister’s office.
Guan Eng held the Penang chief minister post from 2008 to 2018. Penang is considered a DAP stronghold since the party wrested control from Gerakan, the then Barisan Nasional (BN) component which ruled for nearly 40 years.
The overwhelming sentiment is that DAP and PH will retain Penang. Perikatan has a fighting chance but at most, they will only add to the opposition numbers in the 40-member Penang legislature where they now are only represented by one member.
However, the internal fighting in Penang DAP could do some damage to the election results. Then again, it is always the wildcard that gets us.
On the topic of figures returning to their previous offices, Perikatan strongman Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is said to be vying for the Selangor MB post which he held from 2014 to 2018.
While he himself and Perikatan kept mum on the topic, analysts have touted Azmin to be the key for the coalition to unlock and take over Selangor from Pakatan Harapan.
He appears to be the commanding officer in all of the Perikatan campaign and ceramah in Selangor at this time. Undoubtedly, his influence and grassroots support will make a significant dent to Pakatan’s chances to retain Selangor.
Sacked Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin in a piece written for Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS) said it was not impossible for the PH and BN alliance to lose the Selangor state election to PN.
This could happen with a modest swing in Malay votes if this were coupled with a significant drop in non-Malay turnout. He said vote transferability between PH and BN is not simple as assumed by leaders of the two party.
Other than Selangor and Penang, it seems status quo. Perikatan will retain Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, with ease despite significant campaign to woo voters in Kedah by Pakatan leaders.
Negeri Sembilan will remain as a Pakatan state, with its strength in election machinery boosted by BN. The state was formerly a Barisan stronghold.
All eyes are on the nomination day today with many twists and turns expected until polling day on Aug 12.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
