KLANG: In Selangor, the ground preparations for the 15th General Election (GE15) are most intense among the four dominant Malay parties – Umno, PAS, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.

All four are scrambling to secure Malay support, given the beating Umno and PAS got in GE14 in Selangor in 2018.

Bersatu, for its part, is especially feeling the pain after some of its members fled to Pejuang.

Umno’s North Telok Gong district electoral centre chairman Mohd Yusof Dolah said about 60% of the preparations for the polls in his area was already underway.

“We are identifying our potential voters and gauging voter sentiment as well as strengthening our election machinery, which has already been activated,” he added.

He said although Umno was way ahead in terms of experience and support, the party would not be taking the competition lightly.

He said Umno was quite wary of the Undi18 crowd, who will be voting for the first time.

“These are young people who are not in touch with the reality on the ground, and their opinions and perception are mostly guided by what they read and see on social media,” he said.

Mohd Yusof added that Umno was identifying ways to reach out to these youngsters and show them that voting for the party was the way forward.

Tanjong Karang PAS division secretary Adib Amat Mustakim said all preparations – in terms of machinery, strategy, voter outreach and issues – were ready.

“All that needs to happen now is for Parliament to be dissolved and the general election to be called,” he said.

However, Adib added that PAS’ grassroots sentiment was for all the Malay-based parties to stop feuding, settle their differences and work together during the election.

“The grassroots want a stronger Malay voice through the cooperation of all parties.

“If we do not combine forces and our strengths, the minority parties will win, even with just a little Malay support,” he said.

Adib added that all the Malay-based parties must be realistic and recognise their weaknesses as none of them actually had “super strong support”.

Kuala Selangor’s Pejuang coordinator Mohd Shaid Rosli said his party was already prepared to contest in 120 parliamentary seats nationwide as well as the state seats under these constituencies.

“We are fully prepared as we will only be contesting in Malay-majority seats and will not be going anywhere near non-Malay seats,” he said.

Mohd Shaid added that Pejuang’s main opponent was Umno and the party did not regard Bersatu and PAS as threats.

He said this was because Bersatu had little support whilst PAS only had control of very few areas in states other than Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.

“So, we are not worried about initiating measures to counter Bersatu and PAS as our only concern is competition from Umno,” he added.

Sabak Bernam Bersatu division deputy chief Mohd Hamizar Sulaiman said his party was also strengthening ties with its Perikatan Nasional partner PAS.

“That is one of our main strategies now as most other preparations for the polls have been completed.

“We believe with the combined votes we received in the last general election, Perikatan will be able to counter our biggest opponent, Umno, in Malay-majority constituencies,” he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/09/21/selangor-parties-ready-to-rumble