Despite facing competition from other parties, the incumbent PAS appears to be on track to maintain its control over Kelantan, with a campaign that focuses on “upholding Islam” as its central narrative. PAS, along with its Perikatan Nasional ally Bersatu, has been working hard to win over voters in the state.
The streets, bridges, and billboards in Kelantan are now adorned with the green flags of the Islamist party and the dark blue banners of the Perikatan coalition. The campaign primarily revolves around the status of Islam, clean water, state development, and job opportunities.
PAS leaders are confident that they will secure all 45 seats in the state, but some believe that Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional could win between three and four seats, including the urban Kota Lama constituency.
In their efforts to secure votes, PAS and Perikatan emphasize that only they can “protect” Islam, urging voters to choose Malay-Muslim parties that are not aligned with the DAP. Their ceramah, featuring party leaders, have attracted large crowds. Meanwhile, Pakatan and Barisan have focused on connecting with voters through personal interactions.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to meet Kelantan voters on August 7, a day before early voting.
Pakatan and Barisan, on the other hand, have promised clean water, development, improved infrastructure, and job opportunities for locals. These four issues have plagued the state for decades.
Although there may be concerns among Chinese voters regarding PAS-Perikatan’s alliance with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Chinese community comprises only 3.5% of the Kelantan electorate, not enough to overthrow the PAS-led government.
Voters in Pasir Mas, Tumpat, and Tanah Merah express their fear that the DAP would damage the image of Islam. However, one voter from Kelaboran, Azilah, claims that despite PAS supporters denying water issues in the state, the reality is far from it.
In Terengganu, a drawbridge in Kuala Terengganu has become a symbol of the competing narratives between Barisan and Perikatan on who would govern the state better. Both coalitions, vying for the 32 state seats, have claimed the drawbridge project as their own success.
The project, costing RM248 million, was initiated during the Barisan administration from 2008 to 2018 but was completed during the Perikatan administration from 2018 to 2023.
An upset former mentri besar from Barisan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, accuses Perikatan of wrongfully taking credit for the project while claiming that PAS has failed to deliver on some of its promises, such as building 10,000 affordable homes in the state within five years.
Perikatan’s former mentri besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, retaliates by highlighting his government’s success in attracting almost double the amount of external investments compared to Barisan’s tenure. Ahmad Samsuri states that from 2014 to 2017, Terengganu recorded external investments of RM5.5 billion, while from 2018 to 2023, Perikatan managed to secure RM11 billion in investments.
Perikatan also warns that voting for the Malay-dominant coalition is, in effect, endorsing the Chinese-led DAP. To reinforce this message, stickers showing the DAP rocket logo under a Barisan flag have been affixed to streetlamp poles throughout the state.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
