KKB Polls: Erratic weather making life difficult for electorate

Braving the rain: People listening to a ceramah under the spectre of gloomy weather in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor.

HULU SELANGOR: The erratic weather has thrown a spanner in the campaigns of candidates for the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election as they race to reach out to as many voters as possible before polling day this Saturday.

During earlier parts of the day, the weather in Kuala Kubu Baru can be unbearably hot – with temperatures soaring as high as 33°C.

Campaign workers from both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional were seen braving the midday heat in their house to house visits to canvass for votes.

The evenings, however, bring heavy showers and thunderstorms, which would temporarily halt these in-person visits and wash away flags, banners and posters that have been put up by party activists.

But despite these challenges, the candidates and their political workers are hitting the ground hard with the election four days away.

“If we can’t campaign in the morning, we’ll do it in the afternoon,” said Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is Perikatan’s elections director for the by-election.

He admitted that the storms had destroyed some of Perikatan’s campaign materials but stressed that the impact is minimal.

Azmin, who is also Selangor Bersatu chief, however urged voters to cast their ballots as early as possible on Saturday.

“I encourage them to come out in the morning, as it is forecasted to rain in the afternoon,” he said.

Perikatan is locked in a four-way contest for KKB with Pakatan, Parti Rakyat Malaysia and an Independent candidate.

Pakatan candidate Pang Sock Tao said her visits to meet voters had to be adjusted regularly to make the most out of the time left until polling day.

“If it is raining, we can change the schedule or programme and utilise the remaining time and days left,” she said, adding that it did not really affect her work on the ground.

“It doesn’t really affect the campaign but my skin colour instead,” Pang said in jest, referring to her wrists which had been darkened considerably after being constantly exposed to the sun.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan said rains would mostly affect campaigns that were heavily dependent on face-to-face meetings.

“However, face-to-face campaigns are not the only thing that matter,” he said, adding that social media campaigns could also be effective for the sub-urban seat.

“Yes, the weather can bring constraints but it may not matter in the long run,” said Azmi, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.

Prof Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod said unlike the terrain in parts of Sabah and Sarawak, much of Kuala Kubu Baru was reachable by ordinary vehicles.

“Reaching out to voters may not prove to be such a challenge in any kind of weather. Most political parties have prepared contingencies whenever facing unfriendly weather.

“I believe they are prepared to face challenging situations,” said the political commentator, who is also a law professor at Taylor’s University.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, thunderstorms and rains have been forecasted for the remainder of the campaigning period – which last until Friday.

Thunderstorms and rains have also been forecasted for the later parts of Saturday.