State polls: Hybrid approach to reach voters

Tan (centre) seen, in a video, meeting constituents.

A PAKATAN Harapan candidate is combining traditional and new media strategies to ensure voters receive accurate information about the coalition’s initiatives.

Connie Tan Hooi Peng, 33, who is contesting the Seri Delima seat, has chosen a hybrid model.

The former Penang Island City councillor said Pakatan candidates were using TikTok and Instagram as their promotional platforms to ensure that their messages reached all age groups.

She recently launched a campaign video to highlight her achievements as a councillor as well as her election manifesto.

In her video, Tan said she hoped to highlight community activities and raise livelihood issues.

She also said that politicians should keep pace with the times and make good use of technology to promote themselves.

Heng (right) says door-to-door campaigning allows her to see how voters respond. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star

“However, it is also very important to have walkabouts to get close to the voters and listen to them in person.

“Only then can a candidate gain a deeper understanding of residents’ problems and aspirations,” she said.

She urged the people to reject hate politics and race-based ideology.

Tan will battle Perikatan’s Mohan Apparoo, 63, for the seat. Both are first-time candidates.

DAP’s Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-DAP) won the Seri Delima seat during GE14 with 16,553 votes against Barisan Nasional’s Khoo Kay Teong (3,342 votes) and Malaysian United Party’s Tan Yang Yung (159 votes).

For the Paya Terubong state seat, Perikatan’s candidate Andrew Ooi, 39, has been using social media platforms to reach younger voters.

“TikTok is useful because it allows me to post live events.

“I can gauge the response immediately,” he said, adding that he had also been making the rounds in wet and night markets to reach out to the less tech-savvy voters.

Ooi is facing Penang DAP treasurer Wong Hon Wai, 50, in the constituency.

Another Perikatan candidate Heng See Lin, 42, said she used social media to disseminate information besides conducting house-to-house visits.

“Facebook and TikTok come in handy in circulating information efficiently.

“Meanwhile, door-to-door campaigning allows us to see how the voters respond,” said Heng, who is contesting against Pakatan’s incumbent Jagdeep Singh Deo for the Datok Keramat seat.