State polls: Tide in Kedah turning in Barisan's favour, says Mahdzir

ALOR SETAR: There is a shift of support towards Barisan Nasional in several areas that were considered "black" and hard to break through, says Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

The Kedah Barisan chairman said these areas are now friendlier towards the coalition and the momentum of support can be felt as polling day nears.

"The (sense) that people want Barisan (as state government) is there although Perikatan Nasional kept harping on the wave they said was for them," he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 4).

Mahdzir said the momentum seems to be increasing in all 15 state seats that Barisan is contesting which indicates that people want it back.

He said it is known that Perikatan wanted the same momentum that won it support in the 15th General Election (GE15), but that has now shifted in Barisan's favour instead.

The former Padang Terap MP said this was because Barisan had been working hard to be close to the people.

"In Kedah we consider ourselves the underdogs as we are facing the (incumbent) state government," he said.

Mahdzir, the Barisan candidate for Pedu in the Aug 12 election, is confident that the people of Kedah will choose candidates who can work over those who only want to be populist.

He said candidates' service record must be taken into account so that the people's aspirations can be achieved.

Mahdzir also reminded the Barisan election machinery and supporters not to follow the rhythm of their rival by using abusive words during the campaign and ceramah.