6-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made a strategic visit to the opposition-controlled state of Kedah in Malaysia, pledging assistance and investment in a bid to win over the local population ahead of the state polls. Anwar’s target was the seat held by caretaker chief minister Sanusi Md Nor, a popular figure in the region.
Arriving by helicopter, Anwar was greeted by approximately 3,000 settlers in the Felda Teloi Timur settlement, which is part of the Jeneri state ward where Sanusi is defending his seat against Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim from the leading party in the Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance, Umno.
Sanusi took a lighthearted dig at Anwar’s arrival, posting a selfie on his Facebook page with the caption, “Is that a helicopter coming to celebrate Hari Raya?” The post received significant attention, accumulating around 6,000 likes. However, Anwar remained undeterred and announced his plans to bring about changes in Felda. In June, he had already approved a substantial allocation of RM8.3 billion (S$2.4 billion) to waive the debts of Felda settlers.
Felda, established in 1956 by former Prime Minister Tun Razak Hussein, aimed to help impoverished Malays own land and cultivate successful plantations. Initially, Felda turned farmers into a vote bank for Umno. As Umno now struggles to retain Malay support, reducing settlers’ debts has become a crucial goal for Anwar’s administration.
In an effort to sway the upcoming state polls in his favor, Anwar has been distributing various benefits in Kedah. He recently allocated RM3 billion to enhance padi production in the state, known as the “rice bowl” due to its high padi output. Both Anwar’s federal government and the opposition state government in Kedah have taken credit for the €5 billion (S$7.4 billion) investment by Infineon Technologies, a German chipmaker, which plans to expand its plant in Kedah’s Kulim industrial zone.
Speaking at a rally in Jitra, Kedah, Anwar highlighted his role in attracting investments, stating, “I brought in a German investor… The one that built Kulim Hi-Tech Park was the federal government and the one that brought in investments was also the federal government.” He emphasized the need for a leader who could effectively negotiate with the federal government to address Kedah’s challenges, subtly referencing Sanusi’s confrontational approach.
Sanusi, a member of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and a key component of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance, expressed confidence in his administration’s performance over the past three years. Kedah PAS information chief Mohd Azam Abd Samat stated, “We are certain, God willing, that our administration’s performance over the last three years will convince the people. We have achieved a lot.”
Sanusi assumed the position of menteri besar, or chief minister, after the PH state government was overthrown in 2020 due to significant political realignments. Anwar’s ruling coalition aims to regain control of Kedah to strengthen their support among Malay voters. In the upcoming state polls on August 12, the PN alliance currently controls the state governments of Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan, while Anwar’s PH-BN alliance holds the other three state assemblies – Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan.
Sanusi, despite facing challenges from the federal government, remains the most popular politician in Kedah, according to an analyst’s survey. Dr. Mazlan Ali, a senior lecturer at the Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, stated, “Other politicians don’t come close to Sanusi. Anwar is second, and (PN chairman) Muhyiddin Yassin comes third, but there is a huge gap between all of them.”
With BN’s main party, Umno, experiencing declining support, PN has gained favor among voters in Kedah. In the November 2022 general election, PN won 14 out of the 15 parliamentary seats in the state.
