Wan Saiful: I’m not a mismatch for Pendang
PETALING JAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia candidate Wan Saiful Wan Jan does not see his progressive urban personality as a mismatch with the Pendang community’s rural agricultural background.
Political observers have said it is incongruous for the Opposition to field him in this parliamentary seat in Kedah’s rural heartland.
“His image as a modern personality speaking mainly on national and intellectual issues is more suited for an urban seat,” said Universiti Malaya’s Socioculture Department Assoc Prof Dr Azman Awang.
Wan Saiful, previously linked to the Putrajaya or Titiwangsa seats, was reportedly surprised himself when offered to contest in Pendang.
Wan Saiful maintained that he saw no mismatch between his metropolitan background and the farming lifestyle of the constituents.
“My parents used to live here in Pendang. I may have lived in Kuala Lumpur for eight years but that doesn’t really mean I am all that different,” he told The Star.
Alor Setar-born Wan Saiful studied in Perlis and Kuala Lumpur before spending 18 years studying and working in Britain.
He returned to Malaysia in 2008 to set up the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.
Analysts said Wan Saiful, 43, will have a tough time winning the hearts and minds of Pendang folk.
Dr Azman said Wan Saiful needs to marry the national issues he champions with the residents’ daily life.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political scientist Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said, however, that Wan Saiful is formidable as he represents Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pribumi.
Pendang is a predominantly Malay conservative seat where most of the electorate are rice farmers, rubber tappers and fishermen, but Dr Mohammad Agus noted that voters there, especially younger ones, are tech-savvy and politically conscious.
This has led to a growing interest in national issues beyond bread-and-butter struggles.
“Looking at the political history, it would be difficult for Wan Saiful to break through, but political knowledge and consciousness are growing, and voter sentiment is changing too,” Dr Mohammad Agus said.
Wan Saiful admitted it is an uphill battle as the area’s state seat Tokai is an Umno stronghold, while Sungai Tiang is a PAS area.
Yet, he sees Pendang’s history of flipping between ruling coalition and opposition as an advantage for Pribumi because it means the voters are not “party-obsessed”.
“People in Pendang tell me they have a record of accepting good candidates who can bring in new ideas and represent them well, so I wouldn’t say it’s impossible for me to win here,” he said.
Wan Saiful has already begun introducing himself to the people, telling them the story of his relationship with Pendang, including the fact that his policeman father was briefly stationed there.
In fact, he tells them, his mother’s response to his candidacy was: “Looks like you are going to balik kampung.”
Pendang has switched back and forth between Barisan Nasional and PAS since it was first represented in the Dewan Rakyat in 1986.