JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 27 — Campaigning for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections have yet to heat up, as the machinery of various political parties begin implementing their respective strategies to woo and win over voters.
As the campaign period enters the second day today, almost all the candidates seem to be banking on small scale in-person meetings instead of mega rallies, packing their schedules with various traditional methods to meet voters, including going door-to-door at residences, visiting high traffic community areas and tapping social media to reach tech-savvy young voters.
In PULAI, a lack of posters, banners, and party flags seem to signal a toned down affair compared to the typical election atmosphere, which is now limited to areas where candidates can count on strong support.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Suhaizan Kaiat opted for a low-key approach, going on walkabouts to meet voters going about their daily routine, and plans to hold small-scale political talks. A former Johor state assembly speaker, Suhaizan is used to ‘pressing the flesh’ tactics and appeared to be comfortable as he chatted up small groups of people during his walkabouts, accompanied occasionally by Unity Government party leaders, including Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, as they campaigned together in Pulai.
His rival from Perikatan Nasional (PN), Zulkifli Jaafar, 50, and the PN machinery have also chosen a similar approach, and was spotted attending prayers at mosques, meeting people at eateries and conducting walkabouts at places of public interest, where he would introduce himself and share a bit of his background while party members handed out badges to voters.
PN heavyweights such as PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Bersatu vice-president Datuk Dr. Radzi Jidin and Johor PN chairman Datuk Dr. Sahruddin Jamal have also hit the campaign trail to boost their party’s chances and attended a community dialogue in Taman Tampoi Utama today.
Meanwhile, independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi has embarked on a simple campaign, and seemed at ease as he approached voters directly at public locations such as restaurants and markets.
Supported by a 10-member election machinery, the Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association (PKPKL) president said he will focus on developing contacts in person and distributing flyers in the first week of campaigning.
Posters and other campaigning material were also lacking in MUAR, as all contesting candidates elected for low-key and traditional campaigning methods, including using the obligatory daily prayers as a way to mingle with constituents in a more socially acceptable and possibly more effective, campaign strategy.
PH candidate for Simpang Jeram, Bakri Amanah deputy chief, Nazri Abdul Rahman, has been busy with his low-key campaign, and was spotted approached voters at food courts, attending a community breakfast, making rounds at night markets, and met up with armed forces veterans from Muar.
Unity Government heavyweights have also showed up to stump, including Deputy Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who enthusiastically encouraged UMNO members to support Nazri during the BN state Simpang Jeram party machinery meeting last night.
Nazri’s opponent, PN candidate Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya, has adopted a more aggressive approach, combining tried and tested physical walkabouts, dispensing health advice freely to those he meets, with podcasts and big political rallies hosted on Facebook Live.
Abdul Hadi has also made time to canvass for support for Dr Mohd Mazri, with a political talk yesterday and a voter dialogue session with the voters in Simpang Jeram today.
Finally, independent candidate S Jeganathan seems to be taking a very laid back approach and has yet to release his campaign schedule, claiming that his campaign material has not yet been printed.
