Jempol is an Umno stronghold mainly because the constituency covers several Felda settlements.
Pakatan’s liaison chief in Negeri Sembilan, Aminuddin Harun, said the many controversies surrounding Felda since the last general election might have turned some voters against Umno. He said he was certain that many younger voters had changed their attitude towards the ruling party.
He said Felda settlers were acutely aware of the corporation’s troubles and he cited the declining price of palm oil and the recent report about a dubious deal affecting Felda land in Kuala Lumpur.
“The settlers have been watching how these issues are playing out,” he said.
“Furthermore, we see Felda’s second generation continuing to be neglected. Even though there are efforts to build houses for them, we see all the projects in Jempol being abandoned. Some never even got off the ground.”
He said Pakatan would give Barisan Nasional “a good fight” for Jempol in the coming general election.
PAS’s commissioner for Negeri Sembilan, Mustaffa Daharun, noted that his party performed credibly in Jempol in the last election. It reduced Umno’s majority from 12,320 votes in 2008 to 8,629 in 2013.
“We are hopeful the current issues will influence more voters to switch,” Mustaffa said.
Asked whether the reported popularity of menteri besar Mohamad Hasan would make it difficult for the opposition in Jempol, Aminuddin claimed the influence of “Tok Mat” had been overplayed.
“In Jempol, Tok Mat’s influence is not the same as in Rantau (Mohamad’s state seat) or Seremban,” he said.
Mustaffa said PAS did not fear Mohamad or Isa or BN or Pakatan.
“Any of them can contest in Jempol, and they will not present a problem to PAS,” he said.