JOHOR BARU: An effective campaign strategy has contributed to growing support for Pakatan Harapan in the Johor election, says its secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the strategy is centred on prioritising constituencies based on current support trends on the ground through the coalition’s classification of the 56 seats being contested.
“We graded the areas. For example, Puteri Wangsa is certainly not the same as Johor Lama, nor is Larkin the same as Endau.
“So we have several clusters of areas that have been given priority ratings,” he told reporters after a breakfast session with the Chinese community and Puteri Wangsa candidate Dr Maszlee Malik yesterday.
He said the “grades” or “ratings” were assigned to ensure resources and attention could be directed towards target areas based on the different voter profiles and challenges in each constituency.
Saifuddin Nasution, who is also PKR’s joint election director, said the increase in support is also driven by political statements made by the opposition, which had worked to Pakatan’s advantage.
He cited PAS’ call for its supporters to back Barisan Nasional in the seats it is not contesting, saying it had also benefited Pakatan.
In contrast, he said, Pakatan has adopted a more transparent approach by clearly announcing its seat allocation and presenting a realistic and achievable manifesto.
“The campaign strategy structured by Pakatan and political statements from the opposition have contributed to the encouraging pattern of support,” he said, Bernama reported.
He also cited the presence of former Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi at a series of talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Felda Ulu Tiram last Friday as adding momentum to Pakatan’s campaign.
Saifuddin Nasution also described Maszlee as an important asset should Pakatan secure the mandate to form the Johor government.
