UMNO veteran Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Terengganu mentri besar Tan Sri Idris Jusoh were greeted with enthusiastic requests for photographs from shoppers and traders during their campaign for Barisan Nasional in the Terengganu state polls. Ismail Sabri confidently dismissed claims that Barisan’s traditional voters would abandon the coalition in the state polls, referring to it as “psywar (psychological warfare)”.
Analysts and politicians have suggested that the Barisan vote will be crucial in the upcoming polls, with some predicting that supporters may abstain or vote for the coalition’s rivals, Perikatan Nasional. A survey published in a Singapore academic journal claimed that states like Selangor, which is a stronghold for Barisan’s ally Pakatan Harapan, may fall due to silent protest from Barisan supporters.
Barisan is contesting 108 out of 245 seats across the six states, with a focus on Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu. The coalition’s supporters will play a significant role in determining the fate of these Malay heartland states, as well as whether Pakatan can retain control of Selangor where Malays form the majority of voters.
Political scientist Dr. Yusri Ibrahim of polling research firm Ilham Centre stated that the Barisan vote, alongside factors such as the turnout of young and outstation voters, remains uncertain. Surveys have indicated that many Barisan supporters, particularly Malays from UMNO, are still undecided in their choice.
Ismail Sabri dismissed the claim as a Perikatan tactic to demoralize Barisan supporters, stating that he does not see any boycott from UMNO members. UMNO leader Datuk Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku supported this observation, asserting that UMNO members in Terengganu have been working hard, putting up flags before nomination day to keep up with PAS, Perikatan’s dominant party.
While Perikatan has tried to create division between Barisan and Pakatan, alleging Malay fears over DAP, Terengganu UMNO deputy chief Nik Dir clarified that there is no DAP presence in Terengganu. He stressed that the only ones who have insulted UMNO members as infidels and monkeys are those from PAS.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
