Yong Peng, Johor – MCA President Wee Ka Siong on Friday (25 Feb) announced Ng Yew Aik as the party’s 15th and final candidate to represent Barisan Nasional (BN) contesting the Puteri Wangsa state seat in the upcoming Johor Polls.  

Wee announced Tebrau MCA division chief Ng as the candidate at the party’s 73rd Anniversary celebration, at the Che Ann Khor Yong Peng Moral Lifting Society hall here.

The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) reported as Wee said that MCA will be contesting the Puteri Wangsa state seat for the first time, and pledged to work hard to ensure BN’s victory in the Johor polls.

He said that the MCA election machinery was ready to help all BN candidates, regardless of the component party, whether UMNO or MIC, so that BN would obtain the mandate to govern Johor.

He described MCA’s victory in the Johor polls as very important, as the party did not have any state seats during the 14th General Election (GE14).

“This is very important because, in the composition of the Johor government elected in 2018, MCA does not have any representative.

“Hence, we must make up for the defeat and reflect the plural society of Johor, so that no race is left behind in the current development of the country,” he said.

He also said that out of the 15 MCA candidates featured in the Johor polls on 12 March, 10 candidates are new faces, who are seen to be able to gain the confidence of young voters.

The post Johor polls: MCA’s Ng Yew Aik to contest Puteri Wangsa state seat first appeared on NMH.

Later this evening, the results from the Melaka State Election will be known. As at 3pm today, Bernama reports that there was 57% voter turnout, of which an expected 65% may be the final count of the voting which ends at 5 pm today.

According to Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh, the results for the Melaka election will be known before midnight. “The earliest time, he said, would probably be at 10pm, adding that this would only happen if the EC managed to get the cooperation of all parties on Saturday,” he told the media on Friday..

According to tradition, a high voter turnout comprising the older Malay generation will mean a stronger chance of the National Coalition Front, Barisan Nasional, to gain a strong footing. However, if the voters comprise mainly of the younger generation, especially the non-Malays, then Pakatan Harapan will have more hopes. Point to note that many of the registered voters in Melaka who are working in Singapore are not able to return to vote due to the pandemic travelling restrictions, as such, this will have a strong bearing for PH hopes. On the part of Perikatan Nasional, however, whom most political observers see them as just attempting to split the votes to ensure that BN does not have a strong victory, things don’t look as rosy, despite the large number of flags and banners placed all over the state.

Observers have joked that the Melaka polls appear to be a fight between BN’s Datuk Sri Najib Razak and PN’s Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The former has tirelessly been leading the BN push to victory even before nomination day, while the posters of the latter are everywhere even though Muhyiddin is not even contesting in Melaka.

The snap election of the state was called prematurely following a political crisis. It came after four members of the assembly (MLA) who had previously supported incumbent Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali announced the loss of confidence and withdrawal of their support for him on 4 October 2021. They are former Chief Minister, Member of the State Executive Council (EXCO), Sungai Udang – Idris Haron and Pantai Kundor – Nor Azman Hassan from BN, independent (IND) EXCO member, Pengkalan Batu – Norhizam Hassan Baktee as well as EXCO member, Telok Mas – Noor Effandi Ahmad from PN.

Some pundits and analysts have indicated the possibility of a hung assembly or a coalition between two blocks. Whatever happens, it will be an interesting development as there seems to be trust deficit for each other among the three main parties. However, if there is any cooperation that have to be done, it would most likely be between BN and PN, following the Federal positioning. But as mentioned earlier, most political observers do not see much hope for PN in this state election.

The Melaka State Legislative Assembly has 28 seats. Previously, these were held by BN (14), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (two), DAP (seven), PKR (two), Parti Amanah Negara (two), and one independent.

Many Firsts

The Melaka state election sees several firsts starting from the nomination day on 08 November.

Melaka made history as the first state to follow in the footsteps of Sabah which changed its chief minister three times after the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.

In addition, the state, for the first time in its history, is holding the state election separately and not simultaneously with federal seats during a general election.

Simultaneously, it witnesses Gerakan using the Perikatan Nasional (PN) logo and PAS, as part of the PN coalition, for the first time “sacrificing” its logo and contesting under the PN logo.

The first time PAS did not use its logo was in the fourth general election (GE4) in 1974 when it contested on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket, before the Islamic party left BN in 1977 and contested as the Opposition in GE5 in 1978.

Gerakan meanwhile, had previously used the BN logo before leaving the coalition on 23 June 2018 after GE14, which saw the party defeated in all 11 parliamentary seats and 31 state seats it contested.

In this election too, Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee is contesting for the first time on an Independent ticket to defend the Pengkalan Batu state seat which he won in GE14 on a Pakatan Harapan (PH) ticket.

On 02 March 2020, Norhizam, who was then Melaka DAP deputy chairman expressed his support for the new PN state government and was sacked by DAP.

Melaka will also create story if Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin who is fielded against Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and Zainal Hassan (PH) in Tanjung Bidara, is appointed the first female chief minister should PN secures sufficient seats to form the state government.

The Melaka Chief Minister post was first held by Tan Sri Osman Talib, followed by Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba, Datuk Talib Karim, Datuk Setia Abdul Ghani Ali, Datuk Seri Adib Adam and Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik.

Also in the list of 12 former Chief Ministers are Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Abu Zahar Ithnin, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Adly Zahari and the last, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

For the first time in the nation’s history too, with the new norm, public speeches, lectures, physical campaigning, house-to-house visits, walkabouts and leaflet distribution to the public were not allowed. ― New Malaysia Herald

The post Will Melaka Go Back To Barisan Nasional? first appeared on NMH.

Oleh Norman Sapar

Tinggal satu hari lagi baki hari berkempen untuk PRN Melaka yang bakal menentukan tampuk baru pemerintahan negeri. Jentera parti dan calon masih terus berkempen bagi memenangi kawasan-kawasan yang ditandingi.

Tidak dinafikan suasana kempen PRN pada kali ini hambar dengan SOP baru yang diperkenalkan SPR berikutan wabak pandemik COVID-19 yang masih melanda negara. Waktu waktu sebegini yang menjadi bualan jentera jentera parti dan calon adalah congakkan dan analisis kebolehmenangan masing masing. Dua hari berbaki adakah mampu menarik hati pengundi?

Dari pemerhatian yang dibuat sejak dari awal lagi, rata rata rakyat Melaka seolah telah membuat keputusan parti mana yang hendak dipilih. Ditambah dengan ketidakbenaran kempen secara ceramah dan “walkabout” pasti sukar untuk mempengaruhi dan membaca mood pengundi terutama golongan atas pagar.

Kempen baru melalui skrin digital di lori dan lain lain kenderaan setakat ini boleh dikatakan tidak banyak memberikan kesan, bak kata orang “buang minyak sahaja.” Sambutan terhadap kempen di media sosial pula agak hambar dan tidak seperti kempen pada PRU 14 yang lepas. Mungkin kerana takut saman fitnah atau takut nak mengulangi janji manis bulan bintang kerana janji-janji lepas ternyata palsu dan tidak ditunaikan.

Sejak PRU 14, rakyat seluruh negara telah mengalami kesan yang berbeza berbanding sebelumnya yang mana, pendek cerita, adalah kerana ketidakstabilan. Kestabilan itu sangat perlu untuk mengelak berlaku kacau ganggu dan ugutan seperti apa yang telah berlaku. Tidak boleh kata tidak, kestabilan akan membawa kepada kemakmuran. Kestabilan akan wujud apabila gabungan parti yang bertanding memperolehi majoriti kerusi yang selesa untuk mentadbir.

PRN Melaka pada kali ini adalah pertembungan BN, PH dan PN. Walau ramai calon calon bebas namun setakat hari ini calon-calon bebas seolah tiada dalam pertandingan. Bukan hendak merendahkan, tapi ini realiti. Itulah sebabnya berparti itu penting.

Setakat hari ini PH dilihat bergerak sebagai suatu pasukan, tidak banyak konflik dalaman. Namun berdepan dengan masalah malu nak bersemuka dengan pengundi kerana nak cakap apa pun tak ada bahan. Permulaan kempen di media sosial mengundang jenaka, di”lahabaukan” seluruh Melaka oleh bekas timbalan menteri pendidikan dan ahli parlimen Kulai (DAP), Teo Nie Ching.

Manifesto PH kurang mendapat sambutan, modal kempen seperti PRU 14 boleh dikata tidak berlaku kerana sedar rakyat sudah tahu tembelang. Namun, di kerusi kerusi yang majoriti kaum Cina, PH dijangka boleh memenangi namun ianya tidak selesa kerana sekurang-kurangnya dua kerusi yang DAP tandingi calon yang ditawarkan BN mampu membuat kejutan. Pengundi Cina juga dilihat tidak sesolid pada PRU 14 menyokong PH atas pelbagai faktor. Pengumuman Hj Adly Zahari bakal Ketua Menteri jika PH berjaya memenangi ternyata tidak memberi kesan kerana majoriti rakyat Melaka, terutamanya kaum Melayu, sedar bahawa parti yang diwakilinya adalah bayangan parti lain dan semasa beliau menjawat jawatan Ketua Menteri pun tiada perkara yang siknifikan dilakukan. Lagipun macam macam cerita sebelum masing masing bersetuju menamakan bakal Ketua Menteri itu.

Boikot Memboikot

PN tampak yakin, namun penuh dengan masalah. Kesepakatan antara parti gabungan cukup rapuh. Jentera akar umbi parti tidak berapa sepakat, boikot memboikot banyak berlaku. Tu belum cerita tentang calon-calon lagi. Namun PN dilihat bersungguh dan berbelanja besar. Ramai terkejut dari mana PN memiliki modal yang besar sehingga banyak urusan jentera disubkan ke pihak ketiga. Konsep asal ada duit semua boleh buat namun untuk membeli hati pengundi belum tentu lagi. Manifesto yang dikeluarkan pun lambat dan tiada cadangan calon Ketua Menteri menambah kehambaran sokongan pengundi kepada PN. Untuk apa undi PN? Jawapan yang diberi ternyata pelbagai lain pemimpinnya lain jawapan.

Menarik “perang” antara Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (TSMY) dan Tan Sri Shahril Samad (TSSS) serta Tun Mahathir ternyata bukan sahaja menjauhkan sokongan pengundi malah melemahkan jentera dan penyokong parti.

Tidak banyak pembetulan yang boleh dilakukan oleh jentera PN kerana faktor masa dan sebab itu banyak kawasan yang jenteranya pun sudah berkemas.

Rindukan Zaman BN

Majoriti pengundi rindukan zaman BN memerintah. Kemajuan yang dikecapi Melaka sekarang ini adalah hasil pimpinan kerajaan BN terdahulu. BN tidak sempurna, namun atas semangat BN, banyak isu dimuafakatkan. BN menawarkan manifesto yang rasional dan mampu dilaksanakan. Penawaran DS Sulaiman Md Ali sebagai Ketua Menteri Melaka kelak jika BN berjaya membentuk kerajaan adalah langkah yang tepat. Tempoh beliau menjawat jawatan ternyata berbeza kesan dan situasinya berbanding Ketua Menteri masa zaman PH. Rakyat Melaka berasa selesa dan nampak hala tuju apa yang kerajaan negeri nak laksanakan.

Disebabkan oleh ketidakstabilan kerajaan terbubar dan terjadilah PRN. Jadi kesinambungan tersebut harus diteruskan dan sudah pasti syarat utamanya haruslah mengundi BN dan memenangkan BN pada 20 hb nanti. PH dan PN tak boleh bawa kestabilan ke? PH telah diberi peluang, atas dasar dan matlamat tersembunyi yang ada telah mengakibatkan pentadbiran ketika zaman PH semuanya ditukar. Kalau yang baik jadi lebih baik tak apa, tapi ternyata banyak kemudaratan yang berlaku. PN pula bagaimana hendak stabil jika di kalangan mereka sendiri majoritinya daripada “pelompat”. Perilaku lompat ni kat mana mana pun kalau dibawa pasti berlaku ketidakstabilan. Bayangkan kalau kapal terbang ramai yang melompat lompat yang terjadi adalah kapal terbang tak stabil. Jadi macam tak sesuai pula pengamal ketidakstabilan hendak membentuk kestabilan.

Selain itu, PM ketika zaman PN lebih membina kekuatan kuasa parti berbanding kepada lain hal. Dan macam macam lagi hal. Maklumlah, baru nak bertapak. Pilihanraya bukan medan ujian, bukan juga medan judian. Pilihanraya adalah tentang masa depan. Pengundi pengundi di Melaka diyakini bijak memilih antara yang tulin dan tiruan dan antara yang rasional dan harapan tinggal harapan berdasarkan apa yang telah berlaku. BN telah membuktikan dan membawa kemakmuran. Undilah calon calon BN bagi membentuk kestabilan yang membawa kepada kemakmuran. – New Malaysia Herald

Penulis merupakan seorang usahawan dan pemerhati politik. Beliau juga sedang membuat kajian Phd dengan topik “Pengaruh politik di media sosial”. Penulisan beliau adalah bersifat sederhana yang diterima oleh pelbagai pihak. Artikel ini adalah berdasarkan pendapat penulis dan tidak semestinya melambangkan pendirian New Malaysia Herald.

The post Siapa Bakal Terajui Negeri Melaka? first appeared on NMH.