BENTONG: Less than a week before polling day, Perikatan Nasional (PN) is anticipating the winds of change blowing in its favour for the Pelangai state seat by-election on Oct 7.
Unlike the outcome of the 15th general election (GE15) where Barisan Nasional's (BN) Umno retained the seat for the ninth consecutive term, PN has identified two key elements which could decide the winners and losers of the polls.
Pahang PN chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah said the two factors were the unwavering support from certain groups in the constituency who appeared to be unhappy with the excessive "percaturan politik" (political movement) and young voters aged between 18 and 40 backing PN.
"The by-election here is totally different compared to GE15. There are signs from certain new groups (in Pelangai) who had previously cast their votes during GE15… they did not support us previously but seem to be warming up to us (PN) now.
"Some of them have expressed their displeasure with the excessive political movements by certain leaders in a political party… some of these dissatisfied groups consist of party members and some non-members. Such scenarios did not happen in the last general election," he told reporters when met during a campaign in Felda Chemomoi here.
However, Saifuddin said it was not appropriate for him to elaborate further on the groups or identify them.
Meanwhile, he said judging by the trend in the GE15 last year, the state elections last month, and the Pulai (parliamentary) and Simpang Jeram (state) by-elections, the support of young voters remained firmly with the PN.
"In Pelangai, there are about 720 voters aged between 18 and 20, some 1,500 voters aged between 21 and 25, and about 5,600 voters aged between 26 and 40… so, some 50 per cent of the young voters including those outstation are youths and we are confident of their support.
"The young voters have backed PN since GE15 followed by the recent elections and we believe the numbers will continue to display an increase in Pelangai. There are little issues with outstation voters as they will make it an attempt to return to vote… some work nearby Pelangai and some live in Kuala Lumpur which is about a three-hour drive," he said.
The Oct 7 Pelangai state seat by-election is a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional (BN)'s Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, PN's Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.
The constituency has 16,456 registered voters including some 12,000 Malay, 2,990 Chinese, around 940 Indians and 540 Orang Asli voters.
Former Pahang menteri besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob served as the Pelangai elected representative for eight terms between 1986 and 2018 before he was replaced by Datuk Seri Johari Harun who won by some 4,000 majority in GE15.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said PN would step up their campaign momentum for the next five days before polling where several big names were expected to be present in Pelangai before the "grand finale" programme on Oct 6.
"Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin will be here. Most of PN top leaders will be in Pelangai starting Oct 3," he said.