FIRST WEEK OF MAHKOTA BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN PROCEEDING HARMONIOUSLY THE 'JOHOR WAY'

KLUANG, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi called on all parties to campaign the 'Johor Way' right after the nomination of candidates for the Mahkota state assembly by-election last Saturday.

He emphasised that the 'Johor Way' focuses on harmony, urging both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidates to refrain from letting emotions run high during campaigning, especially when it involves sensitive 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues that could undermine unity. 

For outsiders, there is a natural curiosity to witness this style of campaigning. A week in, it can be concluded that the campaign has unfolded calmly and without disruption, consistent with Kluang’s designation as one of Malaysia's Happiest Cities in 2022.

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BN candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, 40, and PN candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, 61, have both adopted a door-to-door approach, along with small-scale activities such as football matches, fishing, dialogues, and casual meet-ups, to engage with voters.

Compared to previous by-elections, the number of flags and posters from both sides has been significantly lower. Only a few locations within the constituency, particularly in residential areas, display flag wars, and even those are subdued. 

Syed Hussien appears comfortable with his campaign style, despite a packed schedule from dawn to midnight, allowing him to meet as many residents as possible, whom he refers to as his extended family. This familiarity is largely due to his recognition within the community through his family’s food business.

BN has organised small group talks, such as the Perpaduan (Unity) gatherings, joined by Pakatan Harapan (PH) allies, including DAP Wanita Chief Teo Nie Ching and Johor Amanah chairman Aminolhuda Hassan, which indirectly dispels rumors of tension within the Unity Government.

Public talks have always been a staple of PN’s election strategy. Key figures like PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Selangor Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, and Johor PN chairman Datuk Dr. Sahruddin Jamal have all joined the campaign trail in modest-sized events. 

As of Thursday, police reported approving 38 permits for campaign talks and mobile campaigns—nine for BN and the remainder for PN. Only one application has been rejected so far.

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Centre for General Studies and Co-curricular, senior lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences, Ku Hasnan Ku Halim believes that this small-scale campaign approach is more suitable for the Mahkota by-election, as urban residents have grown weary of old campaigning methods.

"The public now has more important priorities than getting caught up in political battles. However, they are still observing or have already made their choices, even if those preferences are not explicitly shown through the display of political flags.

“Additionally, the use of social media has become more widespread. Voters can easily access any information they want without needing to attend political events. They just need to be discerning in verifying the authenticity of the content," he said.

Ku Hasnan added that the Mahkota constituency has no issues with internet access, unlike more remote areas such as the Nenggiri constituency. Moreover, there are no major issues here that would serve as campaign fodder for the public’s concern.

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, National and Social Wellbeing Research Group, associate professor Dr. Mohd Azhar Abd Hamid thinks that the relatively low-key campaign is due to BN’s seemingly secure position, unlike in constituencies where the vote is more evenly split.

However, he emphasised that the presence of BN machinery from various states, supported by PH since the first day of the campaign, indicates they are not in a comfort zone, even if they have not gone all out as in previous by-elections.

Mohd Azhar explained that small-scale campaigns, when executed effectively, can engage voters in a targeted manner while providing a human touch that resonates more with constituents.

"I believe national issues do not significantly impact voters here, and political parties are aware of this. Times have changed; traditional campaigning methods are no longer effective in the Mahkota constituency. Even narrower issues like the 3R (race, religion, and royalty) cannot sway voters here, as their mindset is more open and they enjoy a harmonious community.

"The primary challenge is to ensure a high voter turnout. This is what candidates are trying to achieve during the campaign, which is expected to intensify in the second week," he said.

There are 66,318 eligible voters in the Mahkota constituency, with the majority being Malays at 56 percent, followed by Chinese at 34 percent, Indians at 8 percent, and others making up the remainder.

The Mahkota constituency was first contested in 2004, witnessing the dominance of BN, which has won four out of the five elections held.

This by-election is being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2 while she was receiving treatment at the Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital.

-- BERNAMA