KLANG: Candidates contesting for state seats under the Kuala Selangor parliamentary constituency need to only garner a small percentage of Malay votes to achieve a very simple majority.
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This is because Chinese and Indian votes in the area are fixed deposit votes for Pakatan Harapan and will transfer to Barisan Nasional candidates contesting in any of the three seats under Kuala Selangor.
Incumbent Jeram assemblyman Mohd Shaid Rosli said at least 90% of Chinese and Indian voters there are staunch Pakatan supporters.
“Take Jeram for instance, the candidate only needs between 10% and 15% of Malay votes to win with a simple majority,” he added.
He said it would be a bonus point to garner Malay votes if the candidate is a local with family in the constituency.
The Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat is the only one still standing for Pakatan in the northern Selangor region while the other three – Tanjong Karang, Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam – are all in Perikatan Nasional’s grasp.
There are straight fights in Jeram and Bukit Melawati whilst Ijok will see a three-cornered battle.
Datuk Jahaya Ibrahim, Thiban Subramaniam and Amidi Abdul Manan will be representing the unity government in Jeram, Bukit Melawati and Ijok, respectively.
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Fighting for Perikatan in Jeram is Datuk Harrison Hassan, Noorazley Yahya in Bukit Melawati and Jefri Mejan in Ijok.
Independent candidate CK Tan is also trying his luck in Ijok.
Mohd Shaid also reckoned it may be quite a struggle for Pakatan-Barisan to convince Malays, who are fence sitters in the area, to vote for them, as they are believed to be behind Perikatan currently.
Meanwhile, Jahaya, who is the Kuala Selangor Umno chief, said he has been going to the ground and meeting the constituents face to face and explaining to them why it is crucial to elect a unity government candidate.
“So far the electorate has been very receptive,” said Jahaya.
He added it was an added advantage for him that he is from Kuala Selangor and has relatives scattered throughout the district.
Jahaya also concurred with Mohd Shaid that the Chinese and Indian voters in Jeram would be giving the unity government their full support.
– The Star