More voter buzz than fatigue on eve of KKB polls

Tomorrow’s by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu will be the third time in two years that locals have gone to the polls. (Bernama pic)

HULU SELANGOR: There appears to be more excitement than fatigue among voters who will cast their ballots in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election tomorrow, as the last day of campaigning draws to a close.

Several voters met by FMT were raring to fulfil their democratic duty although some admitted feeling tired of elections.

Tomorrow’s polls would be their third in recent times, following the 15th general election in 2022 and the state elections last year.

Kampung Pasir resident Syed Idris Syed Shamir, 59, said he had begun to tire of elections after three in just two years, complete with two-week campaign periods.

He said many of his neighbours felt the same way, adding however that they remained committed to carrying out their civic responsibility come polling day.

“Of course I feel fatigued, but it’s not like we asked to have many elections. Since the former assemblyman (Lee Kee Hiong) has passed away, we have to vote again, but I don’t have any issues with doing so,” Syed Idris told FMT.

Eddie Lee.

Eddie Lee, 35, who resides in Kuala Lumpur but still votes in Kuala Kubu Baharu, said he and several of his friends had been back in their home town since Wednesday in anticipation of polling day tomorrow.

“All my friends are enthusiastic and have already returned to cast their votes.

“I work in Kuala Lumpur, so I reached Kuala Kubu Baharu earlier to avoid any traffic congestion,” said Lee.

Meanwhile, a grocery store owner who wanted to be known as Devadas said calls by certain parties for the Indian community to boycott the by-election were an external sentiment.

He expressed confidence that the local Indian community would not entertain such calls made by “outsiders” and would cast their ballots tomorrow, adding that he personally had never failed to vote in an election.

However, Devadas also expected voters based outside of the constituency to give polling day a pass.

“The local residents will definitely come out to vote, but some out-of-town voters may feel that returning would involve a long journey and significant expenses, so they might not return because this is only a by-election, not a general election.”

The by-election for Kuala Kubu Baharu will see a four-cornered contest among Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Pang Sock Tao, Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainuddin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

Both PH and PN are hoping for a high voter turnout which would be crucial to victory for either side, with the latter banking on the Malay electorate to give it the win.

On the other hand, PH hopes for a high turnout of non-Malay voters in the mixed seat, and to retain most of the Indian vote, with Chinese voters said to be solidly behind DAP.

Kuala Kubu Baharu has a mixed electorate comprising 50% Malay, 30% Chinese and 18% Indian voters.

Campaign fever boosts business

Meanwhile, a local business owner in Kerling said she had been reaping the economic benefits of the increased activity during the campaign period.

Siti Alwiyah Nor Khaidi, 22, said the election season had boosted her daily income by more than 50% over the past two weeks, with political parties’ election machinery flooding into the usually quiet town.

She said her daily income was normally around RM250, but that this rose to an average of RM500 to RM1,000 a day about a week ago.

“For me, the election season is a great help to local businesses. Particularly when many people come from outside (of Kuala Kubu Baharu), notice our businesses and support them,” Siti Alwiyah said.