PETALING JAYA: The decline in Malay voter support was among the key reasons behind Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the Johor state election, the coalition has acknowledged following a post-election assessment.
Pakatan election director, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, said the post-election analysis found that the coalition continued to enjoy strong support among non-Malay voters but experienced a drop in backing from Malay voters.
“In addition, among the factors identified (behind Pakatan’s defeat) were the popularity of the Johor Menteri Besar, as well as several other factors that influenced voting patterns,” he said.
He commented when asked after the launch of the Ambulance Kita Selangor programme phase 2 and the introduction of the Selangor state public health icon at the state secretariat’s main foyer of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building, on Wednesday (July 15) afternoon.
Amirudin explained that, following the findings, Pakatan would refine its campaign approach by placing greater emphasis on engaging young voters ahead of the Negri Sembilan state election.
He said that, based on data at the polling station level, there was still room to increase support among this group of voters.
“Tonight, I will chair a Pakatan meeting to develop a more organised strategy for the Negri Sembilan state election, while also preparing for other elections that will follow,” he said.
Elaborating further, he explained that the campaign strategy in Negri Sembilan would also be tailored to the state’s political landscape, as Pakatan is the governing coalition there, unlike in Johor, where it contested as the Opposition.
"Several adjustments to our campaign approach will be made to suit local conditions and the backgrounds of our candidates, so that our efforts are better organised and our message can be delivered more effectively to the people.
“I believe we remain on the right and solid path to defending Negri Sembilan. I will work closely with the caretaker mentri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun to ensure all preparations for the state election proceed smoothly,” he added.
