GEORGE TOWN, April 13 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) celebrates the 10th anniversary of its taking over of Penang this year and is confident of retaining most of the 40 seats up for grabs this election.

PH leaders and analysts alike believe that Penang voters will retain PH as the state government despite relentless attacks against the administration by former ally PAS as well as Barisan Nasional (BN).

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Associate Professor Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the usual racial and religious issues often brought up by BN, especially among rural Malay voters, will not matter this time round.

He said Malay voters are now better informed and not as affected by claims of Malays being marginalised by the current administration.

"There is no question that Pakatan will still retain the state this election,” he said.

Penang DAP vice-chairman Zairil Khir Johari said it is very important for PH to get a strong mandate in Penang to demonstrate the people’s support for the coalition, especially with new allies, Parti Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), in the coalition.

"We need to show that we have maintained strong support in Penang after 10 years and this will ease our path in taking over Putrajaya, if we win this time,” he said.

The PAS factor

The then-Pakatan Rakyat, a loose coalition made up of PKR, DAP and PAS, took over Penang from BN in a landslide victory back in 2008, winning 29 seats out of 40 while in 2013, the coalition won 30 seats.

Much of the win in rural areas, particularly Malay-centric seats like Permatang Pasir (PAS) with 73 per cent Malay voters, Penanti (PKR) with 76 per cent Malay voters and Seberang Jaya (PKR) with 64 per cent Malay voters, were attributed to PAS’ strong grassroots support.

Now that PAS is out of the picture and may contest in these seats against both BN and PH, BN is hoping to win back these seats.

Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said said PAS may prove to be a thorn in the coalition’s side as the Islamist party has a strong base in these seats.

"If we look at Permatang Pasir, it will be a fight between PAS, Amanah and BN but if we look at the voters, BN will retain the approximately 7,000 to 11,000 supporters we have there while PAS and Amanah will split the Opposition voters of 13,000, so in the end we might stand to win,” he said.

Similarly, in Penanti, PAS will also split PKR’s votes which could benefit BN, he added.

This view is, however, not shared by Amanah vice president Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

"You must remember most of the so-called PAS grassroots in these areas have switched to Amanah so we have the same ground, the same grassroots as back in 2013 and 2008,” he said.

He said Penang PAS is merely there to play the role of "kingmaker” for BN and will not actually win any seats.

Though PAS has not revealed the number of seats it plans to contest in this time, the party has previously contested in Permatang Pasir, Bayan Lepas, Sungai Acheh, Sungai Dua, Permatang Berangan and Penaga, most of which have more than 60 per cent Malay voters.

PAS only managed to win one seat both in 2008 and 2013 — Permatang Pasir — and since it is no longer in PH, the party may contest in more than the six seats it contested previously.

"We will not reveal which seats we are contesting in yet but we will definitely be contesting more seats and we have already been working the ground in most areas,” said Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff.

He dismissed Amanah’s confidence based on the number of grassroots who have switched from PAS to Amanah.

"Let them be confident, we will see when elections come... we still have a very strong base and we have been going on the ground to talk to people,” he said.

National vs local issues

In the past year, Penang BN has raised issues pertaining to the current administration’s performance in managing the state, from over-development, alleged corruption, environmental issues to sale of state land.

Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said these are issues that they need the people to know about before going to the polling station this GE14.

"We need the people to know about these issues that the state did not resolve, such as traffic congestion, lack of affordable housing, poor planning and environmental issues,” he said.

When asked if these issues will help BN win back some seats, he said this will depend largely on how much change the voters want for the state.

"Of course, we go to this battle to win all seats if possible, after all, we have put in a lot of effort in the last year to go down to the ground and help the people, inform the people, so we do hope to win,” he said.

Zaidi believes that local issues such as poor planning or lack of infrastructure will also be major issues that voters consider as important.

"In Permatang Pauh, the people want local issues such as floods and traffic congestion to be resolved,” he said.

Meanwhile, PH will use the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a main issue to campaign not only for the state but also parliamentary seats.

Penang PPBM chief Marzuki Yahya said BN is using the "Save Penang” campaign to try to win back the state so PH will focus on a "Save Malaysia” strategy along with its anti-GST campaign.

"Cost of living is very real and it affects everyone so this is something that everyone can relate to,” he said.

PH will also be highlighting the changes it has brought to Penang and the many programmes and projects that it has successfully implemented in the state over the last decade.

Balik Pulau PKR division chief Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain said the state government has continuously brought in investments to the state over the last 10 years, introduced social welfare programmes for the people, recently allocated RM200 million to resolve flood issues in the state and implemented affordable housing schemes.

"The PH state government has done a lot in the past 10 years and is now even working on upgrading the skills of people here to increase the salary scale for those working here,” he said.

When asked about their main concerns when casting their votes this election, most voters cite safety, education and livelihood as the main factors.

"I feel that our safety is most important, we must be safe and the country remain peaceful so I want that to remain,” said Idris Che Mat, 56.

The trader, who will be voting in Penanti, said the availability of education for his children and grandchildren are also importan.

"I want the government to ensure we are safe, country is peaceful, there’s education for our children and as a Muslim, of course, I want my religion to be protected,” he said.

For 73-year-old Hussin Mat Salih, safety, livelihood and cost of living are the main issues that he looked at.

"It is important that our country remain peaceful no matter what and of course, we all need to make a living, so that’s important too,” he said.

As for other issues such as the alleged corruption related to the proposed undersea tunnel, Hussin said these are merely political issues that do not affect the people.

"These are just the political talk that does not concern us so I am not even bothered to read about it,” he said, likening the regular to-and-fro arguments over the project by both BN and PH leaders to a "fight between elephants that mice are best served to stay out of.”