PH candidate fears low turnout of Chinese voters in Perling

JOHOR BAHRU: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Tee Boon Tsong fears that a low voter turnout, particularly among Chinese voters, could hurt the coalition’s chances of retaining the Perling seat in the Johor election.

Tee said feedback gathered during the campaign suggested that some supporters were reluctant to return home to vote because they viewed the Johor polls as less important than a general election.

“I just came back from a walkabout, and some people told me they do not intend to vote because this is only a state election, not a general election,” he told FMT.

“The majority of PH supporters here are Chinese voters. Many of them are not taking this election seriously, so turnout could be very low.”

Perling is one of Johor’s most diverse constituencies, with Chinese voters making up about 46.9% of the electorate, Malays 37%, and Indians about 13.3%.

Tee also said many voters working outside Johor, particularly in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, had indicated that they would not return to cast their ballots.

He urged voters to exercise their democratic right and return to Perling on polling day.

“We still have five days. I hope everyone can come back to vote. It is your right to choose the government you believe is best for you,” he said.

Perling has been represented by PH since 2018, when it was won by DAP’s Cheo Yee How with a 19,533-vote majority. In 2022, PH’s Liew Chin Tong, also from DAP, defended the seat with a 3,347-vote majority over Tan Hiang Kee of Barisan Nasional (BN).

Tee will face BN’s P Pannir Selvam and Bersama’s Boo Wei Han in a three-cornered contest for the seat.

He said the economy remained the biggest concern raised by voters during his campaign.

“Many people hear about investments coming into Johor but they do not feel it. What they do feel is the rising cost of living and increasing prices, and that is causing them hardship,” he said.