Perak, GE14 'hot' state
By Linda Khoo Hui Li
IPOH, May 7 (Bernama) -- Perak became one of the 'hot' states to watch out for in the 14th General Election following Pakatan Harapan's announcement to recapture it.
But why is the state assumed as a 'hot' state? It is all because in the previous election, Barisan Nasional (BN) only secured 31 state seats from 59 seats, while DAP won 18 and PKR and PAS, five seats each.
A recent study by Invoke Malaysia claimed that Perak would be among five states to fall into the hands of PKR in GE14.
However, political analyst and economist, Prof Dr Hoo Ke Ping believes that BN will remain in power in Perak and may even increase its seats and vote majority.
He said his prediction was based on the declining support from the Chinese community, namely, from 85 per cent in GE13 to between 70 and 75 per cent currently, as well as DAP's potential loss of votes to PAS.
"DAP has zero chance of taking over Perak. With PAS contesting in DAP's strongholds, the party is expected to grab DAP votes. PAS will hurt DAP, while the Malays will 'kill' DAP's last hope in Perak," he told Bernama.
Hoo said that previous 'hurt' experienced by the Chinese community in Perak from former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would also dash Pakatan Harapan's dreams of winning Perak.
He pointed out that the percentage of people voting in GE14 was also expected to be low, namely, between 70 and 75 per cent, blocking the aspirations of the opposition, particularly DAP.
On the election fever in Ipoh throughout the campaigning period since April 28, Hoo said it was not as intense as compared to the previous election despite the special appearance of big guns like DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and his son, Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng.
Meanwhile, political analyst Liew Wei Chern said MCA and Gerakan might seize the Kampar parliamentary seat from DAP and Gopeng from PKR, and retain Tanjung Malim and Teluk Intan.
Liew said Kampar has 69,436 voters of whom 55.37 per cent are Chinese and that at least eight per cent would return to vote BN's Datuk Lee Chee Leong as their representative as he had not ceased serving the constituency despite losing in GE13.
As for the Gopeng parliamentary seat, he said MCA candidate, Datuk Heng Seai Kie, who is also Perak MCA Wanita chief, had a 50-50 chance to wrest the seat held by Dr Lee Boon Chye (PKR-DAP) for two terms.
"To retain the Teluk parliamentary seat won by Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong in the 2014 by-election, he must secure the support of the Malays and Indians who make up 60 per cent of the voters."
"Mah will contest against Nga Khor Ming (DAP) and Ahmad Ramadzan Ahmad Daud (PAS) which will divide the Malay support in the parliamentary constituency consisting of 66,487 voters," he noted.
On the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat won by MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan in GE13, Liew said MCA which fielded its state chairman, Datuk Mah Hang Soon could expect to retain the seat without any trouble.
-- BERNAMA
