Reports by ALEX TENG, WANI MUTHIAH, ZAKIAH KOYA, TARRENCE TAN, RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM, JUSTIN ZACK, TEH ATHIRA YUSOF, IMRAN HILMY, GERARD GIMINO, KHOO GEK SAN, JUNAID IBRAHIM and ARFA YUNUS
Candidates plead their cases for electorates to do their duty
PETALING JAYA: Political parties and their war room strategists have done all the planning and the talking.
At ceramah and meet-and-greet sessions during the campaign period, the candidates have cajoled voters to give them a chance to serve. And they are now pleading for voters to come out to vote this Saturday.
The elections will involve Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu
A higher voter turnout means that Malaysians are excited to carry out their responsibilities as voters.
“When we win the state polls, this will mean that the voice of the people in the states are louder than the voices in the corridors of Putrajaya,” he added.
PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin
He anticipates that the youth will turn up at polling stations on Saturday.
“That’s the narrative which we’ve been pushing for in our programmes from the start of our campaigns,” he said.
Khairil also said PAS has urged parents to ensure that their children who are adults working in other states to return and vote.
“We have used social media to ensure that youth come out in droves to vote,” added Khairil.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, who will be defending Selat Kelang
He expects a higher voter turnout in Malay-majority areas to have a positive impact for Perikatan Nasional in Selangor.
“If there is a high voter turnout in the 36 Malay-majority state constituencies of Selangor, Perikatan can win all 36 seats.
“Add five or six seats from Bersatu associate wing and Perikatan component Gerakan in non-Malay majority constituencies, and we would be able to take over Selangor comfortably,” said Abdul Rashid, who is also Selangor Perikatan deputy chief.
“For this state election, we know the Malays are eager to vote and we are hoping for turnout to be at 85% to 90% among the Malay electorate.”
Melanie Ting, chief of staff of Muda’s central information team
She says it is crucial for the people to vote for the right assemblyman in their constituencies.
“If you want your state assemblyman to be accessible and contactable, then you should come out and vote for them,” she added.
Ting said there are youths who may be politically fatigued, but reiterated the importance of voting.
“If you care about your country and constituency, then you should come out and vote.
“Don’t vote for people who don’t represent your voice, vote for someone who you believe represents your generation,” she said.
PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung
The party has reminded all candidates to organise more programmes to reach out to the youth.
“We also reminded all candidates to head to popular hangout spots for youth, places where they like to converge.
“It is important to shake hands and feel the warmth of candidates. It doesn’t mean that young candidates will attract the youth,” he said.
Lee said PKR has increased its social media presence on Instagram and TikTok, where the party has uploaded more videoclips in recent days.
“There is also more social media engagement by us,” he said.
He expects the voter turnout to be lower than at the 15th General Election in November last year, which was 73.89% or nearly 15.5 million voters.
Lee reminded voters that Selangor contributes 25% to the national GDP and it is an important economic powerhouse.
“We are appealing to all voters to exercise their duty to vote for the unity government, as it is a vote for stability for the next five years, as well as a vote to create synergy with the Federal Government.
“For Kelantan and Terengganu, it’s an effort to bring the east coast states to the mainstream of development and to reject excessive politicking. We want to get work done – having clean water, better roads and development.
Selangor Pakatan Harapan election director Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri
Voter turnout for early voting on Tuesday was above 90% at all six states. He expects the same outcome on polling day this Saturday. “I’m expecting turnout to be no lesser than 80%,” he added.
Yahya also said Pakatan has prepared vehicles to assist senior citizens and the disabled to cast their votes on polling day.
“But for outstation voters, it is not our practice to bring them back to vote,” said Yahya, who will be contesting in Permatang in Selangor.
He said voters should be aware of their responsibilities during an election.
