Johor polls: 750,000 new voters 'a big issue' for all parties, says Tok Mat

KUALA LUMPUR: The 750,000 new voters in the upcoming Johor state polls will be a big issue for all political parties including Barisan Nasional, admits the coalition's election director Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Mohamad, who is also Umno deputy president, said the additional numbers will bring the state’s total voters to about 2.5 million compared with 1.8 million in the 14th General Election.

"This sharp increase in the number of voters... is a big issue not only for Barisan but for all political parties on how to study the attitude of the new voters," he said at the Concorde Club forum on Tuesday (Feb 8).

The session at Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur was attended by top media personalities from the industry.

Mohamad explained that the bulk of the new voters comprised those aged above 21 years and were not the result of Undi18.

"Don’t misunderstand this issue. Of the 750,000 new voters, not all are aged 18 to 21.

“There are not many (in the 18-21 bracket). They don’t even make up 30% (of the new voters). Most of them are 21 and above.

"This is also something that Barisan and Umno are looking at carefully, especially in terms of how we want to woo these groups to ensure that they will support Barisan in the state election," he added.

On seat allocation for Johor, Mohamad said Umno had already shortlisted candidates.

"We have asked the state liaison and divisions (for) the names they would like to nominate.

"We also heard that our component parties are doing the same and are awaiting a suitable time to sit together to see which seats will be (contested) by which party," he added.

"The best possible way (for Barisan to win the state election) is to identify seats that can be retained and regained... (this) must be negotiated properly," he said.

Mohamad said Barisan was also aiming to win more seats in the northern area of Johor, where there are 16 state constituencies.

Out of the 16 seats, he said Barisan intended to win 12 this time after only winning two in GE14.

He attributed that showing to internal issues and candidate problems, with opposing parties winning by slim majorities as a result.