YAN: A state leadership crisis in Kedah PAS could have contributed to the reduced majority in the Sungai Limau by-election yesterday as party supporters were not convinced with the new state chief Mahfuz Omar, said political analysts.
The failure to find a credible successor for the state seat to replace the late Azizan Abdul Razak further disillusioned PAS members.
In Monday’s by-election, PAS candidate Mohd Azam Abd Samat won with a reduced 1,084 majority compared to the 2,774-vote majority obtained by former incumbent Azizan, who was former Kedah Menteri Besar.
At the same time, the voters were impressed with the charming personality of Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir while the Chinese community switched their support to BN.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) School of Politics and International Studies lecturer Md Shuib Shukri said the Sungai Limau community was still feeling the loss of Azizan who passed away on Sept 26, adding that he was a respected figure by residents of all races here.
He said the action of the state PAS leadership in criticising Azizan may not have gone down well with the groups of voters within PAS who were not so friendly with the new state PAS leadership.
“The attempt by a group of leaders in trying to topple Azizan was still fresh in the mind of members and Jerai PAS leaders and this may have caused them not to vote for PAS,” he said.
Md Shukri said the weakness at PAS grassroots in the state was not only making this stronghold losing ground but also made it easier for BN to penetrate other areas.
“For example, in the Bukit Besar and Bukit Choras polling districts, the two stronghold areas of PAS. In Bukit Besar, PAS could only obtain 1,557 votes compared to 1,624 votes in GE13.
“In Bukit Choras, PAS won with 695 votes compared to 726 votes in GE13.
BN penetrated core areas
Overall, BN succeeded in penetrating the hardcore PAS areas with increased votes,” he said.
Apart from that, Md Shukri said the local community including religious scholars also welcomed the leadership of Mukhriz as Kedah BN chairman.
“Look at Pondok Pak Ya (Sekolah Menengah Agama Taufikiah Khairiah Al-Halimiah) at Bukit Besar, the BN-led government succeeded in carrying various activities which were well received by the management of the school, famous for producing so many PAS leaders,” he said.
Universiti Malaya Centre of Democracy and Election Learning (UMCEDEL) director Prof Dr Mohamad Redzuan Othman said the success of BN in increasing only 4.4% of its votes compared to 13GE is something which should be given due attention. In the by-election yesterday, BN obtained 10,985 votes compared to 10,520 votes in the GE13 in May and the votes also increased from 8,816 votes in GE12.
He said PAS lost ground in the total votes received but BN should not be too contented as it had the advantage of a stronger machinery.
The UM Arts and Social Sciences dean said the trend of voting yesterday showed BN and PAS only managed strengthen support from their respective hardcore supporters.
PAS was reported to have 9,499 members in Sungai Limau and BN with 9,230 members. Mohamad Redzuan said the time had come for BN to understand the sentiments of the local residents especially PAS supporters compared to the approach of promising development projects to draw support to the party.
He also noted the falling trend in popularity of the votes secured by PAS when its winning majority since GE12 with 3,212 fell to 2,774 in GE13 to 1,034 in the by-election.
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