GE14 | Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) last night acknowledged the support and the machinery of both PAS and BN in Terengganu, and admitted that it would be difficult to compete against the two in the 14th general election (GE14) on May 9.

Harapan deputy president Mohamad Sabu said PAS and BN posed a huge challenge to the opposition in the state, but said there is still "hope" for Harapan.

"It's still difficult, we have to work hard, because the 'wave' (of support) in Terengganu, comes later than other states. There is still hope but we have to work harder.

"The reception (in Dungun, Terengganu) is encouraging, and gives us to boost to keep working," the Amanah president told reporters at the Padang Astaka in Dungun, last night.

Earlier, thousands of locals attended Harapan's ceramah there. Also present at the ceramah were Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, as well as other senior coalition leaders.

Deep-set doctrine

According to Mohamad, who is better known as Mat Sabu, the biggest challenge for Harapan in Terengganu is the doctrine inculcated in its people, that if the coalition wins the election, then the DAP Chinese will rule the country.

"The majority here are the Malays, they are still afraid of Harapan.

"The doctrine that if the opposition wins, the DAP Chinese will rule the country, has been inculcated in them for far too long. To change that, it's not easy," he said.

In the 13th general election, BN held on to the mandate to lead Terengganu with a slim majority of 17 state seats, but maintained a two-thirds majority. 

GE14 will witness a three-way fight between BN, PAS and Harapan, in all the parliament and state seats in Terengganu.

Meanwhile, Mohamad said Harapan has to utilize technology as best as it could, to court voters in the state.

"Now we are using all sorts (of technology), if not, how would people have known about tonight?

"Like tonight's event, there weren't many posters around but with technology, people still turned up," he said.

He concluded by addressing the uphill battle Harapan faces in the east coast state, but said: "hope is still hope."