State polls: Both sides of political divide claim to have voter support in Negri

SEREMBAN: Both the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional pact and Perikatan Nasional are claiming to have secured the lion’s share of voter support in Negri Sembilan.

The rivals are set for straight fights in 27 of the 36 state seats. Of the 864,000 voters, Malays make up an estimated 56.2%, Chinese (26%) and Indians (15%).

State Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said on paper, the “newfound friends” of Pakatan and Barisan should romp to victory.

“I have visited all 36 state seats and each time I am told that the support from the voters, especially Malays, is increasing by the day,” he added.

He said claims by Perikatan that it has been making headway in the state, especially in Malay-majority seats, was mere propaganda.

Jalaluddin, who is vying for the Pertang seat, said Perikatan had failed to win any of the eight parliamentary seats in GE15 and the voter trend could not possibly change within nine months.

State DAP chief Anthony Loke, who is defending his Chennah seat, said claims by Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin that the party would win five of the six states, including Negri Sembilan, was just “mind games”.

“I am not being arrogant but to see a party’s strength, one must see the support from the grassroots. Based on voting trends in Negri in GE15, PAS hardly had any support and it was worse for Bersatu,” he said when met while campaigning in Kg Chennah.

Loke said Barisan also had solid support in rural areas and villages.

“I won the Chennah seat for two terms but even I have never been able to win in places like Kg Chennah, Kg Puom, Sg Rokan and in the Orang Asli villages.

“So just how is Perikatan going to make inroads into the state?” he said.

In the last state polls in 2018, Pakatan won 20 of the 36 seats. Barisan took the remaining 16.

Meanwhile, state Perikatan deputy chief Rafiei Mustapha begged to differ.

“The other side is claiming they have been getting more Malay support but we have Umno members who are not happy with their leaders telling us that they are with us,” he said.

Rafiei said the majority of the Malays in Felda schemes, for example, were with Perikatan.

Twelve of Perikatan’s 36 candidates being fielded in the state election are non-Malays.