Survey predicts PAS defeat in three-cornered fights? Just ‘psywar’, veep says

(MMO) – PAS has downplayed a recent survey last month which predicted that in the next polls PAS would be defeated in three-cornered fights in several PKR seats, claiming the finding was just a “psychological warfare” to weaken political enemies.

Its vice-president Datuk Iskandar Samad said the survey by Selangor government’s think tank Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE), that favoured PKR and Pakatan Harapan (PH), was intended to influence how voters think.

“Usually surveys that are announced are ‘psy war’ to weaken the enemy’s machinery,” the Selangor executive committee (exco) member told Malay Mail’s sister publication Projek MMO.

“Sometimes surveys are not intended at identifying the thoughts of voters, but to influence how they think.”

The survey predicted PAS would get the lowest number of votes if it faces the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and Opposition pact PH in three state seats currently held by PKR: Bukit Antarabangsa, Seri Setia and Sementa.

Those three state seats are currently held by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, and two other state exco members, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Dr Daroyah Alwi.

Based on the electoral roll for the fourth quarter of 2017 and after redelineation, IDE’s survey between March 15 to March 18 showed that Azmin would win with a vote-majority of 8,045, while PKR is expected to win Seri Setia and Sementa with a majority of 3,856 votes and 831 votes respectively.

The study showed that PAS will only win 4,238 votes in Bukit Antarabangsa, 5,860 votes in Seri Setia and 6,004 votes in Sementa.

IDE deputy chairman Datuk Mohammad Redzuan Othman also said that it will be difficult for BN to regain the PH-held Selangor, due to Azmin’s leadership and the performance of his programmes.

When contacted, Iskandar who was also the former Selangor PAS commissioner said the findings of surveys would always vary.

“If there are 10 studies, there will be 10 different results. So IDE is only one of those studies,” he said, adding that PAS itself also conducts studies: “But it is for internal use. To plan our movements.”

He did not however reveal whether PAS would have better chances this year despite no longer being part of the federal Opposition pact.

After parting ways with its former allies, PAS which went on to form Gagasan Sejahtera with other parties now wishes to contest in over 40 seats out of the 56 state seats in Selangor.

PAS won 15 state seats in Selangor in 2013, but two of its elected lawmakers left the party following the Selangor mentri besar crisis a year later.

Parliament was dissolved yesterday to pave the way for the 14th general elections, with Selangor expected to follow suit on Monday after mentri besar Azmin has an audience with the Selangor Sultan.

Following the prime minister’s announcement yesterday on the dissolution of Parliament, six of the 13 states yesterday had announced that they would dissolve their state legislature today. The other states are pending audiences with their respective state rulers.