PENDANG, Nov 14 — At 4am, Hassan Taib wakes up to head out in pitch-black darkness, as he has done for over 30 years, to tap rubber in Kubang Pisang here, oblivious to the commotion of the 15th general election (GE15) around him.
It is a campaign some of its protagonists have billed as a battle to “save Malaysia”, to rescue it from the financial ruin of multibillion ringgit scandals, or to prevent political power from being lost to this community or that.
But for Hasan and other tappers here like him, all they wanted was just 70 sen, or the difference between the RM2.50/kg price of rubber now and it would need to be in order for him to make ends meet, RM3.20/kg.
“I have been working so much I’m missing out on what’s happening in the world, but I see these political parties’ flags all around me, so, it must be election time,” a worn-looking Hassan, 55, told Malay Mail when met in this Kedah parliamentary constituency.
“I have no idea who the candidates are; I recognise the three logos except the white one [Pejuang-GTA] but I’m not smart enough to know what’s right or wrong as my concerns are on how to put food on the table.”
Saying the stagnant price of rubber has made it difficult to survive, particularly with the country’s cost of living crisis, he hoped for a representative who would dedicate themselves to aiding the poor, starting with helping to find ways to increase the price of rubber.
Wearily, he said his other wishes were also ordinary: clean, piped water so they would not have to depend on a well and some work for times when rubber could not make ends meet.
In GE15, Pendang will see a four-cornered fight for the first time in its history, with candidates from Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Pejuang competing.
“I don’t know much about their plans and such but I haven’t decided who to vote for, maybe whoever can help us more I’ll support them,” he said while holding copies of his two children’s birth certificates needed for an application for school assistance.
Not far away was a stall named Kedai Legend Kubor Panjang, where the aroma of oxtail soup wafted through the air.
Opened during one of the lockdowns to contain Covid-19, Abdul Wahab, 62, and his wife, Wan Kadmah, 63, sold what he said was his special recipe for the popular and hearty broth.
There, he told Malay Mail that the upheaval in local politics, especially the split among the Malay-based parties, have left him and other voters divided, even to the point of conflict within families.
“In truth, some are wondering who will give them ‘incentives’, but even after getting it they argue because some may have gotten more than others.
“Another problem is people were loyal to the parties but now they’ve merged, voters are stunned. They don’t want to pair or support another party, why should they? Just because parties like Umno have problems and divisions, now they try to ally with others,” Abdul Wahab said.
While he did not say he preferred it, he pointed out that things were simpler during former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s time.
Abdul Wahab appeared to hold PN’s Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in some regard, while viewing Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with suspicion.
Ultimately, however, he said it would not matter which of them became the prime minister.
“Economy is bad, the weather bad, but everyone is politicking, so, I will vote for whoever can convince me they can bring back some stability to the country and have strong convictions for the people.”
Some 20km outside away from the state capital Alor Setar, the primarily agrarian Pendang is home to a town and over 30 villages, all of which have 94,547 voters eligible to vote in GE15.
Driving from one village to another, most major roads are flanked by the golden fields of paddy that have earned the state its place as Malaysia’s rice bowl.
From Kubur Panjang to Kampong Penyarom and Pekan Pendang beyond, there were idyllic fields as far as the eye can see. On clear days, Mount Jerai’s summit peeks across the golden fields, offering a beautiful view.
Open and generous, residents in Pendang were welcoming when approached about their views on the election, which many did not seem to realise was a fierce battle being fought on the national stage for control of the country.
Most did not comprehend the value and power of their vote, with some saying they only went on polling day because they might be paid to do so.
On November 19, the incumbent Datuk Awang Hashim from PAS will try to see off BN’s Datuk Suraya Yaacob, Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Dzulkifly Ahmad and Pejuang’s Abdul Rashid Yob.
Suraya has been the Sungai Tiang assemblyman since 2004, has a strong presence in Kedah, and is tipped to make Awang work to keep his seat.
For Dzulkifly and Abdul Rashid, however, 47-year-old housewife Halimatul Saadiah Ab Mutalib said there was a mountain to climb.
“I recall Awang asking the PH government for aid, but he didn’t get any. Then, when Muhyiddin became prime minister, he got whatever he needed,” she said when Malay Mail met her while buying banana fritters, referring to PH chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“People here aren’t fussy and it’s not hard to gain our trust. And we could give a new guy a chance, but when you’re not from here, how do you compete with Suraya and Hashim?” she asked.
While Malaysia voted in PH as the federal government in 2018, Pendang and many other constituencies in the Malay heartland went with PAS.
Representing the Islamist party, Awang won with a 5,809-vote majority over BN’s Datuk Othman Abdul in the year that PAS also secured control of the Kedah state government.
While the country has gone through one federal administration after another since then, politically, time here appeared to have stood still.
Still, there were pockets of those who have tried to keep abreast, such as coconut water seller Mohd Sharil, 39.
“I’d say PH’s chances are 50-50 only because they are new. As far as corruption goes, it’s everywhere; even Islamist parties are corrupt,” he said alluding to PAS.
“We all know BN is corrupt. However, if you’re corrupt and there’s no progress, then that’s worse. I want a representative with a personal touch. Pejuang, we’re not sure what they’re doing here; he [Abdul Rashid] seems more of an NGO guy and not a politician.
“We know that when Suraya is in office, she will not choose cronies while Awang will only pick those with allegiances to the white moon,” he added, alluding to PAS' full moon logo on a green backdrop.
Sharil said he was still undecided but would choose the candidate with the strongest leadership skills.
Some younger voters here told Malay Mail they would only vote for someone familiar and committed, rather than another politician who would only show once every five years to fish for their votes.
Their wishes were also simple: jobs, roads, and basic water infrastructure.
“We are not very clever. We read the news but we’re not sure who to trust. We’re young but we know these people just talk and talk and talk.
“Promise this and that but when the time comes, they disappear,” said a 22-year-old shopkeeper who declined to be named.
Pendang will vote in the general election along with the rest of the country on November 19.
