BUKIT MERTAJAM: As PKR makes its final push to the campaign for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, its candidate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is hopeful that the result of the Rompin by-election will translate into more votes for her party today.

“Although in their campaign, they had promised millions of ringgit in aid and development projects, they could not increase support for themselves,” she said in reference to the Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign.

“It cannot be denied that the implementation of the goods and services tax has burdened the people.

“PR (Pakatan Rakyat) needs to progress with this momentum because we are sure the majority are with us in their support.”

In the Rompin by-election on Tuesday, BN’s majority was reduced from 15,114 votes in the 13th general election two years ago to 8,895 when its candidate, Datuk Hasan Arifin, obtained 23,796 votes over PAS’ Nazri Ahmad’s 14,901 votes.

Despite the worrying result of a PKR survey, which showed that less than 70% of voters will turn up to cast their ballots, PKR strategic director Sim Tze Tzin said he had received good news that there are overseas voters making an effort to return and vote.

“I’ve been told by a voter, who is flying back from Shanghai, that there are many others from Permatang Pauh on the same flight.

“If overseas voters can take the trouble to return, what more those in Kulim, Ipoh and other nearby locations?”

Sim denied claims that support from the Chinese had dwindled, saying it is still solid based on their survey, ground reports and attendance at events.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, meanwhile, denied the hudud issue will cost PKR votes from the party’s supporters.

“The leadership at the top has given [its] full support to Kak Wan [Wan Azizah]. The voter turnout will not be affected. In fact, it will be more,” he said.

Wan Azizah spent yesterday on walkabouts, meeting voters at the Kubang Semang mosque, Taman Ciku and the Seberang Jaya expo site, according to PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

“The main message is to galvanise voters, especially youths and those residing outside Permatang Pauh,” Nurul Izzah said at the PKR media centre in Yayasan Aman yesterday. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on May 7, 2015.