The final push

Candidates usually spend remaining time in their own constituencies

With the clock winding down for the 15th General Election, all political parties will be making their final pitch to get the voters out tomorrow. Convincing a few more voters, especially the fence-sitters, at the last minute could make all the difference.

PETALING JAYA: Political parties and coalitions are all hunkering down for the last leg of the campaign with just 24 hours to go before the Election Commission rings the final bell at midnight tonight.

All the coalitions have completed their grand stage finales with top leaders to mark the completion of nationwide tours.

Candidates will return to their constituencies to be closer to the voters on the ground before polling day, with the main push now being to ensure a bigger voter turnout.

This election will see a record 21.17 million voters. A total of 39 parties with six coalitions are contesting.

A total of 945 candidates, including 108 Independents, are in the fray for the 222 parliamentary seats.

At the same time, Perlis, Perak and Pahang are also holding their state elections.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the Barisan Nasional candidate for Kota Tinggi in Johor, said the last 24 hours differ from candidate to candidate as neither Barisan nor Umno had issued any “strict orders”.

“We also use all available methods such as social media campaigns to get the votes of those we may not be able to meet or and those living elsewhere.

“No one size fits all. I am still campaigning doing walkabouts,” he said.

Barisan’s motto this time is “Stability and Prosperity”.

MCA spokesman Chan Quin Er said what candidates do in the final hours will depend on whether it is a flood-risk area, especially with the monsoon season.

“A number of states are already experiencing rainy weather and MCA has activated its flood teams. For example, our Kluang candidate Gan Ping Sieu was up at 3am to help flood victims.

“At this moment, it’s about being with the people and mobilising assistance,” she said.

Perikatan Nasional’s grand finale ended last night in six locations – Pagoh, Kemaman, Juru, Machang, Lenggong and Shah Alam – with chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and leaders giving their “final advice” to voters based on their tagline “Clean and Stable”.

Tambun’s Perikatan candidate, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, said all the coalition’s candidates would return to their constituencies.

“In Tambun, we will stop campaigning at 7pm and all the machinery will gather for special prayers. We leave everything to God. We are not laying down our arms.

“In the final hours, it will be more about urging the voters to come out on Saturday. It does not matter who they vote for, just come out and vote,” said Ahmad Faizal.

Pakatan Harapan chief and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was on a nationwide “Jelajah”, will also return to Tambun from Sabah today.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, meanwhile, held his final “Pandan Ceramah” on Wednesday with the rally cry of “We Can”.

Gerakan Tanah Air secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya said the coalition’s candidates will try to meet as many voters as possible in the final hours but “we will be focusing on certain zones in Kedah and Langkawi”.

In Sarawak, Senior Works Minister and Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s candidate for Petra Jaya, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, said it will be a quieter 24 hours for him.

“There are generally no big ceramah here, unlike in the peninsula. The candidates have always been in their constituencies. Logistics-wise, Sarawak is not easy to move around in.

“For me, my last 24 hours will be more on social media. People have more or less made up their minds on who they will vote for,” said Fadillah.

In Sabah, Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah head Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor ended his campaign in the interior before heading to Tuaran where he will vote.

Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin will be in Kinabatangan while Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal will do his last push in his home base of Semporna.

Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, the Kota Marudu candidate, is in Tuaran to help Datuk Joniston Bangkuai who is up against Pakatan’s Upko president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

A total of 119 candidates are vying for 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah.

According to analysts, wooing voters in the last hours does matter.

Universiti Teknologi Mara School of Media and Information Warfare Studies’ security and political analyst Dr Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said last-minute campaigns would focus on “message retention” for undecided voters.

“Political parties will also focus on their social media outreach,” he added.

Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb also said last-minute campaigning was important to reach fence-sitters.

“In urban and semi-urban areas, many Malays can still be swayed at the last minute, especially when it comes to bread-and-butter issues,” said Azmil.