DAP taking a gamble in Ayer Hitam, says analyst

(FMT) – A political analyst warns that fielding a candidate in Ayer Hitam will pose a big challenge for DAP as many of the voters in the Malay-majority constituency do not like the party.

Speaking to FMT, Kamarul Zaman Yusoff from Universiti Utara Malaysia said DAP was taking a gamble by fielding Johor chairman Liew Chin Tong.

“DAP will have to do everything possible to ensure the Malays vote for the party.

“If they succeed, this will be a sign that the Malays have accepted DAP. But if they don’t, it will further deteriorate DAP’s influence among the Malays,” he said, adding however that it was a bold move on DAP’s part to contest in a Malay-majority seat.

On Sunday, opposition pact Pakatan Harapan (PH) announced that Liew would leave his Kluang constituency to run in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat, which is traditionally an MCA stronghold.

Ayer Hitam is currently held by MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong, who won the seat in the last three general elections albeit with a declining majority each time.

Kamarul said even the Chinese voters in Ayer Hitam could not be counted on to support DAP as they still remember Wee’s contributions.

“As Liew himself says, Ayer Hitam constituents have no problem with Wee. Personally, people just do not like Barisan Nasional (BN).

Kamarul also warned against using DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang as a benchmark for Liew’s success in Ayer Hitam, warning that Liew was still not as influential as the Gelang Patah MP.

“To say that DAP will be able to command similar support in Ayer Hitam as it does in Gelang Patah may not be accurate.

“The majority of voters in Gelang Patah are Chinese, whereas in Ayer Hitam, the majority of voters are Malay. Liew’s supporters are mainly Chinese.

“Liew has yet to gain the status that Lim has among the Chinese community. Liew is only DAP’s political education director, while Lim is the party advisor.”

In the 2013 general election, Lim scored a huge win in Gelang Patah, defeating former Johor menteri besar Abdul Ghani Othman by a 14,762-vote majority

According to Kamarul, PAS’ advance into Ayer Hitam would also result in a fierce tussle for the parliamentary seat.

“If a big majority of the Malays vote for PAS, DAP’s chances of winning will be slim. But depending on how PAS campaigns, it may benefit DAP by taking votes away from BN,” he said.

For the past three elections, Wee’s rivals in Ayer Hitam have all been from PAS.

He won with a 15,763-vote majority in 2004, 13,909 in 2008 and 7,310 in 2013.

Malay voters make up 57.57% of Ayer Hitam’s electorate, while Chinese voters account for 38.43% and Indians 4%.