'Shy' non-Malay voters prompt PN candidate pivot

PELANGAI BY-ELECTION | Recognising that attracting a non-Malay crowd was a challenge, Perikatan Nasional candidate Kasim Samat has vowed to switch tactics and go straight to their doorstep.

Speaking to reporters recently about the dismal turnout at PN’s mid-autumn festival event in Telemong on Thursday night, Kasim (above) said the local Chinese community appeared to be “shy”.

“I believe we need to enhance our efforts to approach them (Chinese voters) by doing house visits, just like what we have been doing in Malay areas.

“Maybe such activity would be more meaningful compared to a program like this.

“Maybe they are too shy to participate (in PN programmes), they are worried that their friends would see them here,” said Kasim.

Yesterday morning, Kasim hit Manchis, a Chinese-majority town to approach voters directly and remarked that this worked.

“This morning, I went around to meet with the uncles and aunties at Manchis town. I took this opportunity to whisper in their ears to give a chance to me and PN.

“Alhamdulillah, the responses were positive.

“Insya Allah, I will prove that our Chinese friends are also ready to be with PN,” he said in his Facebook post.

On Thursday evening, PN vote canvassers tried in vain to convince Telemong town folks to join their mid-autumn festival event.

Some locals decided to watch proceedings from a distance, while a handful of children joined the lighting of paper lanterns.

While largely a Malay-majority constituency, 28 percent of constituents are non-Malays, who mostly split their vote between BN and Pakatan Harapan during the November 2022 elections.

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