2-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) With Malaysia’s state elections just around the corner, the main political coalitions have launched their election manifestos to win the support of voters. However, experts warn that it is unlikely for electoral promises and policy debates outlined in the manifestos to have significant impact in garnering support from voters. Instead, voters, particularly in rural areas, are drawn to emotive campaign rhetoric and racial issues, according to analysts. Residents from six states – Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, and Penang – will vote for state lawmakers on August 12.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance, which is part of the federal unity government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has launched election manifestos for Penang and Selangor. PH is the incumbent state government for both states. Meanwhile, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, which forms the opposition in the federal government, has launched its manifesto for the east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu, both strongholds for PN component party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).
The promises made by the coalitions encompass economic benefits for lower-income residents, new employment opportunities, pledges to improve transportation connectivity, and public amenities such as clean water access. However, analysts say that electoral promises and policy debates are not likely to be a significant factor in swaying voters. Instead, rural voters are more likely to be persuaded by race and religious rhetoric, rather than policy debates.
Political analyst James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania and Senior Fellow at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, stated that manifestos do not play an important role in rural areas, but they may matter slightly in urban areas as the middle class are more likely to examine the promises.
In an interview with CNA, political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) highlighted that in urban states such as Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, manifestos could be a plus point for political parties who want to show off their track record as the political literacy is higher.
BowerGroup Asia director Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani stated that the manifesto proposing social, economic, and development promises is vital for the unity coalition to divert the election campaign away from the issues of race and religion, which are Perikatan Nasional’s bread and butter.
