SEREMBAN: Fresh from their victory in Johor, Barisan Nasional leaders have poured into Negri Sembilan as it takes centre stage ahead of polling on Aug 1.
For Barisan, the daily visits are about building on the momentum from the Johor state polls.
Negri Sembilan has 36 seats in play, among the fewest in the country. But that has not dampened interest in the state election.
Since nomination day last Saturday, big names from every coalition have appeared on ceramah stages here almost daily.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has visited at least twice, joined over the past week by ministers Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Nga Kor Ming, Gobind Singh Deo and Steven Sim.
From Barisan, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin have been campaigning, as has Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has appeared on six straight days since nomination day, while Seremban MP and Transport Minister Anthony Loke has been out almost daily.
Barisan and Perikatan Nasional are cooperating under a new electoral understanding, splitting the 36 seats between them – 25 and 11, respectively – while Bersatu is contesting independently.
Pakatan is going it alone in all 36 seats.
All sides see the result as a gauge of momentum heading into the next general election.
Barisan launched its state manifesto on Friday night, fronted by Mohamad with MCA leaders Datuk Chong Sin Woon and Datuk Seri Mah Hang Soon.
Pakatan launched its own manifesto earlier, on July 20, attended by caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Loke.
Bersatu and Perikatan also launched their respective manifestos yesterday in separate events.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and MCA’s Ling Tian Soon rallied their party machinery in Gemencheh on July 19.
Ahmad Zahid was out across the state over the weekend with stops in Port Dickson and Kuala Pilah yesterday.
Some seats have seen especially heavy traffic.
In Repah, Chennah and Nilai, Dr Wee has returned repeatedly to back MCA candidates Koh Kim Swee, Siow Kong Choon and Datuk Lai Chien Kong, drawing rival visits from Pakatan ministers.
The attention has also reached quieter corners.
Even Kampung Tohor, an Orang Asli village of just 850 voters in Chennah that is rarely on the campaign trail, drew a visit from Ahmad Zahid on Friday as he campaigned for Siow.
In Jelebu, farming areas such as Pertang and Titi have seen evening ceramah for the first time in years, in towns that normally turn in soon after dark.
“It is definitely livelier now. The single-lane roads here barely have any cars, but now we often see blue and red motorcycle convoys,” said Ahmad Razif, who runs a hawker stall in Pekan Titi.
Ahmad said business was much better than usual, thanks to the steady stream of campaign workers and visitors.
“Usually, we only have sports cars coming here for a weekend drive, but now we also have campaign workers. It is a good boost,” he said.
“But I hope this stream of visitors won’t just come during election season, as we need more tourists to improve the local economy.”
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the presence of ministers could boost visibility and signal that a coalition was united and committed, but was unlikely to shift entrenched voter preferences on its own.
“Its greater value lies in sustaining campaign momentum, energising party workers and persuading supporters to turn out on polling day,” he said.
Sivamurugan said the Negri Sembilan result would offer useful indications of voter sentiment and coalition cohesion but should not be treated as a definitive predictor of the next general election.
“National elections involve different dynamics, leadership considerations and issues that may produce a different voting pattern,” he said.
A total of 889,490 voters in Negri Sembilan are eligible to cast ballots on Aug 1 with early voting scheduled on July 28.
