Parties adapt strategies as weather hampers walkabouts and ceramah
KOTA KINABALU: With just three days to go before the Sabah polls, the state’s political battlefield is becoming even more muddied – literally.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms have drenched campaign trails for days, making walkabouts difficult, but candidates pressed on to reach out to voters through house-to-house visits.
Ceramah with pitched tents are also continuing to see crowds despite the downpour.
Minor flooding was also reported up north in Matunggong yesterday and residents there were advised to prepare for evacuation.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to fly today to Sandakan and Tawau before heading to Kota Kinabalu tomorrow.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department forecast, heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected for the next three days across the whole of Sabah.
Despite the unforgiving rain, political parties are pulling out all the stops to ensure they can reach out to as many voters as possible.
Barisan Nasional’s Karamunting candidate Datuk Chin Kim Hiung, for one, has strategically re-organised his campaign.
“There are times we adjust schedules due to the thunderstorms, but there’s always a backup plan,” he said.
“During drizzles, we still go out, albeit with umbrellas and raincoats. If the rain is too heavy, we do walkabouts in shoplots instead.
“Cancellations only take place if the area we are heading to may be risky, but those are rare.”
Warisan’s Moyog machinery adviser Jenifer Lasimbang said their campaign would focus on house-to-house visits in the evenings when the rain eased off slightly.
“It’s not just regular heavy rains but thunderstorms here, throughout the day at times.
“Rescheduling the walkabouts also keeps our team members safe from the elements.
“Everything else, including the scheduled dialogues, has been proceeding as usual with encouraging turnout despite the weather,” said the former Moyog assemblyman.
Lasimbang said their team was prepared for such situations, with the machinery always having umbrellas, raincoats and spare clothes at hand.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s Tamparuli candidate Dr Bonaventure Boniface said his campaign strategies had taken into consideration the bad weather.
“We prepared for this. The turnout at our programmes is still positive despite prolonged showers,” he said.
Perikatan Nasional’s Luyang candidate William Ooi said the rain had led to a tweak in campaigning.
“While it hampers our walkabouts, it also shows infrastructure weaknesses. From flash floods to clogged drains, it is an opportunity to discuss solutions that matter,” he said.
Political analyst Datuk Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi said constant downpours during campaign periods could affect the dynamics, political narratives and possibly turnouts.
“Potentially flooded roads, landslides and poor transport connectivity could depress turnout,” he said.
“This could be the same in urban areas if the rain reduces the machinery’s mobility.”
