THE drums have already started beating and the state elections are expected to be held early August at the latest.
It will be interesting to see how Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) work together as teammates in their maiden election outing as they are both ideologically very different.
Political parties see young voters as decisive in polls. The so-called Undi18 group will join other voters in heading to the polls once again.
While outcome of the six state polls will not alter configuration of the existing Federal government, it will nevertheless be seen as a barometer for the support towards Anwar and his unity government, especially among the majority Malay Muslim voters.
The outcome of the state elections in Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will further benchmark not only the coalition’s current performance but prospects of the PH-BN alliance in spearheading the unity government as well as to gauge its chances of winning the next national polls slated for 2027.
One also cannot brush aside the notion of a political ‘green wave’” in the coming state polls. Interestingly, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent series of dialogue sessions with varsity students where he shared several intriguing insights and advice were well-received.
Social media prowess
However, there have been debates about the mindset of young voters and whether they are ready to determine the country’s political direction as the young minds of today are more mature than in previous generations.
At the same time, many young voters are also clueless and apathetic about their country’s political situation.
Youths who are more politically savvy are likely to prioritise issues that are considered sensational such as the national Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan amount, business opportunities that come with financial assistance and other incentives as well as job opportunities.
The age of the candidate – the younger the better – could also resonate with young voters. But this has to be seen in light of external factors such as background, locality and the candidate’s very own political idealism.
Undoubtedly, candidates who are active and popular on social media stand a higher chance of winning the hearts of voters, especially young people who will be voting for the first time in the state elections. It goes without saying that social media platforms have a strong influence on today’s voters regardless of their age groups.
As UMNO-BN is facing one of the biggest challenges in the state elections after a questionable performance in the 15th General Elections (GE15), vote transferability from BN supporters to PH candidates and vice versa may be challenging.
A sector of UMNO supporters may opt to stay out or even support PN candidates due to dissatisfaction with their own leaders.
PH has to work harder to show to convince their supporters that its decision to partner UMNO-BN is a workable preposition given it is an open secret that several BN leaders are uncomfortable with such arrangement.
Expect the unexpected
In the meantime, voters are more likely to choose a candidate who is more concerned with local community issues rather than party logos. This is why political parties need to champion state government issues to win the hearts of voters who are sensitive with their locale or surroundings.
While the candidate’s social media presence might play a part in attracting support, it must also be borne in mind that young minds of today are mature and sensitive to issues that can affect the country and the economy.
Moreover, a larger section of the youths also appear to be more focused on pursuing their studies and living out their aspirations.
As it is, the Election Commission (EC) is constitutionally obliged to hold an election within 60 days of it being called. Also, it would be easier to hold simultaneous polls for the six states so as to avoid differing dates as political capital.
Traditionally, EC will issue an election writ two weeks after the dissolution of parliament or state assembly to enable it to hold a meeting to determine important dates that include nomination day, campaign period and the polling day.
UMNO, PAS, and Bersatu largely focus on the same Malay constituency and defend a conservative-ethnonationality agenda. While PAS and Amanah have a clear Islamist agenda, UMNO and Bersatu’s political lines are rather similar although the latter claims to be a cleaner version of the former.
Unexpected alliances between the former ruling UMNO and its long-time radical opponent PKR led by PMX Anwar has somehow blurred the line between both parties’ agendas.
Approximately 9.78 million voters will be eligible to cast their votes in the six state polls throughout Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu. – July 2, 2023
M. Vivekananthan has served the Malaysian government at various ministries and agencies for 30 years.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Photo credit: Bernama
