Melaka BN 'sniping' at voters' heart
By Fadzli Ramli
MELAKA, May 3 (Bernama) -- Mention the 14th General Election (GE14) campaign and the first thing that comes to mind are the mega 'ceramah umum' featuring well-known names talking on current issues and what they and their parties can do for the people.
This time around, the description fits only the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led campaign well, but not Barisan Nasional (BN), as the ruling coalition focuses on a more quiet and personal touch type of approach, namely through mini 'ceramah umum' attended by about 20 people during each session.
Even Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Idris Haron swung into action attending to group meetings every night at voting districts in the Tangga Batu parliamentary constituency, from a small roadside stall to the villagers' veranda where he diligently explained the current issues and what BN could and would do for the people.
"I divided my role into two, helping my BN friends with their 'ceramah umum' but I then go back to my area to attend the group meetings. Besides that, we have been doing a lot of walkabouts to meet the people which is important for the BN candidates to give the campaign a personal touch. So far, so good."
"How the BN-led government has always been with the people though thick and thin, never mind even if the voters did not choose the BN candidate in the last general election," said Idris who will be contesting in the Sungai Udang state seat.
Making daily rounds to visit the people has been the routine for Puteri UMNO Chief, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin who will be contesting for the Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat and former Melaka chief minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam running for the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary seat.
Born in Bukit Katil here, Mohd Ali stressed it was now or never for him to make sure his beloved hometown would not fall into five years of darkness again when Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin from PKR won the seat.
Meanwhile, according to Melaka PH state election director, Mohd Rafiq Naizamohidden, the opposition pact campaign was going according to plan and the biggest issue faced involved the voters of Taman One Krubong here opposing the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) line going through their housing area.
A total of 73 houses would be acquired and the people there did not oppose the HSR as a whole but they were concerned that the project would inconvenience them, especially when piling works begin, where their houses could get damaged and they have to put up with noise and dust pollution and end up exposed to electromagnetic radiation.
Beside the HSR, PH in its mega 'ceramah' regurgitates the usual issues like 1MDB, corruption, Goods and Services Tax and how voting for them could save Malaysia. The presence of Pakatan Harapan big guns like former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng have been scheduled in Melaka this Friday.
Despite the political heat, the poster war is not in full gear yet in the state.
The BN machinery is at its best when it comes to putting up posters and BN flags everywhere, while PH and PAS are left trailing.
The first six days of the campaign went on smoothly without any untoward incident, according to Melaka police chief, Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan.
He said only five investigation papers were opened involving small incidents relating to damaged flag and campaign posters.
Melaka has 28 state legislative seats and six parliamentary seats.
-- BERNAMA
