JOHOR POLLS | Ever since the curtain rose on the Johor state election, when night falls, a truck painted in bright yellow can be seen quietly traversing various corners of greater Johor Bahru.

Around 9pm, it always punctually pulls over by the roadside, most of the time deliberately choosing dim and hidden back alleys.

Without the grand stages and intense lighting of big-name political parties, that yellow truck itself is the sole source of illumination, lighting up the night for candidates and party leaders to step aboard and deliver speeches.

This truck belongs to Parti Bersama Malaysia, a new player that has sent ripples through this state election.

This “kancil truck roadshow”, as party co-leader Rafizi Ramli calls it, symbolises the party’s current plight: fighting a lonely battle, yet determined to break the political deadlock in the dark.

Facing a pincer attack from three major political coalitions, Rafizi, who took the helm of Bersama just one and a half months ago, frequently...