KUALA BESUT, July 22 — PAS has virtually given up hope of winning the Kuala Besut state by-election but has not “thrown in the towel” just yet.
The party does not see any indication that the majority won by Barisan Nasional (BN) would be reduced given several factors that hamper efforts. The party is struggling to reduce the 2,434-vote majority won in the recent 13th general election.
PAS central committee member Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar, who is also Tumpat MP, said that since polling was on a working day this would stop many voters living away from the area to return to cast their votes.
He believes that the turnout would also be affected as polling takes place during the fasting month.
“Nevertheless, we will continue pushing as we are not out yet,” he said.
PAS now lags behind BN with just two more days to go.
Collectively, PAS ceramahs held at various areas nightly have not attracted more than 150 people, except for the one led by party spiritual chief Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat, which was held at Gong Badak, which attracted some 1,000 people. But even then, most of the attendees were apparently from Kelantan, not local voters.
Three nights ago was the only time the ailing Nik Aziz appeared and only for 15 minutes.
Terengganu PAS chief and party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang only appeared on the scene two nights ago after returning from performing the umrah, leaving the party without a “commander” in the battle, he added.
It is learnt that the party fell behind from the very first day of campaigning as BN launched a massive attack in the constituency with dozens of ministers and deputy ministers flocking to meet voters day and night.
Small ceramahs were held indoors to explain government policies and possible aid for different sectors but this only attracted about 100 people while BN official functions were held daily during the day — with a true show of force.
Kamaruddin said PAS has been slow to mobilise the election machinery as Terengganu PAS is merely playing second fiddle to Kelantan PAS given that its by-election director is from Kelantan — who is Datuk Husam Musa.
The locals, who are mostly fishermen and farmers, were more interested in the bread-and-butter issues such as the need for a breakwater at the jetty so they can berth their trawlers safely during the monsoon.
“They are simple folk who are religious, living in a community where mosques and suraus were spaced 100 metres from each other, reflecting deep religious belief, “ he said, adding that the only Chinese presence are the traders in the town close to the jetty leading to Pulau Perhentian.
PAS dominance has begun to erode since the height of the “battle of influence” between the party and Umno which saw cases of two imams and separate mosques and suraus prevailing, splitting the people and their families.
But that was in the Eighties, and those incidents have been consigned to history.
The present Kuala Besut is serene and tranquil, where wooden stilt houses blend with modern brick houses, but still retain the kampung atmosphere.
PAS’s old approach of using religious issues and Pakatan Rakyat’s approach of using alleged government corruption and scandals have not gone down well with the locals.
BN, on the other hand, has not played up of scandals of opposition leaders in the last eight days of campaigning but has instead focused on projects and housing for the locals.
After 10 days of tame and mild campaigning, BN clearly leads in popularity while locals have opined that BN would win by a larger majority this time compared to 2,434 votes three months ago. Polling is set for Wednesday.
