MELAKA: With less than 48 hours to go before polling, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest has sharpened the political battle in the state, where national grievances are competing with candidates’ records of service for voters’ attention.
Parties have intensified their ceramah and grassroots visits, with rivals seeking to turn the final campaign push into votes.
Political analyst Azizah Harun said the Najib issue could influence voting patterns, particularly in urban seats.
But sections of the rural electorate could interpret the issue differently, viewing it through the question of respect for royal authority, she said.
Nevertheless, Azizah said candidates’ visibility and service records would remain important considerations.
“Many voters know which candidates have been serving their constituencies long before being fielded for the election,” she said.
The competing campaign strategies are increasingly visible on the ceramah circuit.
Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to campaign here today, including appearances at two major evening ceramah in Bukit Baru and Paya Rumput, according to Melaka PKR acting chief Adam Adli Abd Halim.
Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, meanwhile, have mobilised their machinery through the Muafakat Melaka cooperation, with joint Gelombang Biru events across the state.
Melaka PAS commissioner Zulkifli Ismail said a “munajat” programme today and a final major ceramah were among the activities planned to reinforce support before polling.
Campaigning ends at 11.59pm on Friday, ahead of polling for all 28 state seats on Saturday.
Other analysts say bread-and-butter issues still matter most to voters.
“Najib’s house arrest could become an emotional and symbolic factor in the final campaign, but economic concerns and candidate credibility will probably remain more decisive for the wider electorate,” said Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
Awang Azman expects a turnout of 68% to 72%, higher than the 65.85% recorded in the last state election in 2021.
Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the campaign had no major wave or dominant national narrative, with local bread-and-butter issues still dominant.
He expects a turnout of 60% to 65% and said outstation and younger voters would be crucial.
“The challenge is not voter registration but voter motivation. Digital campaigning may capture their attention, but physical mobilisation will determine whether they turn up,” he said.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said the campaign had been one-sided, with Umno and PAS more energetic than Pakatan.
He said Najib’s house arrest and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s resignation as Transport Minister had galvanised Umno and PAS in the last few days and given Pakatan impetus to talk about Najib.
“They can talk about the Najib issue, but in the final days, the local bread-and-butter issues are very, very important,” he said.
