Surveys by Ilham Centre have found sizeable protest votes that can potentially turn the tide of the by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar.

Ilham Centre director Hisommuddin Bakar explained that even though the surveys found BN to be ahead in both by-elections, the undecided voters are significant enough to swing the election results in any direction.

In Kuala Kangsar for example, BN is ahead with 37 percent of the votes followed by Parti Amanah Negara at 24 percent and PAS at 12 percent.

However, undecided voters are still at a whopping 27 percent even though the survey was conducting during the final stretch of campaigning.

Likewise, in Sungai Besar, BN is ahead with 41 percent of the votes followed by Amanah at 19 percent and PAS at 16 percent, but the undecided voters are at a high 24 percent.

The surveys were conducted from June 11 to 16, the second half of the campaigning period with 420 respondents for Sungai Besar and 402 respondents in Kuala Kangsar.

Hisommuddin said the undecided voters were mostly BN and PAS supporters who are no longer sure about their own parties any more.

He added that the trend of undecided voters increased as former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad campaigned in both constituencies for Amanah.

“An upset result can happen at the last minute if the BN machinery fails to address the silent protest element within Umno,” he said.

For example, he pointed out multiple elements of internal disgruntlement within Umno in Kuala Kangsar, including the fielding of the constituency’s former MP’s widow Mastura Mohd Yazid who holds no position in the Umno division.

“In Sungai Besar, thee is also a split in support as some Umno supporters had wanted Mislimin Yahya as candidate,” he said.

He said some of the undecided voters which may translate into protest votes also include PAS supporters who are confused by the party’s current direction.

He noted that Amanah was trailing BN and PAS in the beginning of the by-elections but is now in second place after receiving a boost from Mahathir as well as Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

Nonetheless, he said Amanah’s strategy on national issues will only resonate with politically-savvy voters as many are more concerned about local issues.