This federal constituency with over 50,000 voters has always been an opposition stronghold.
In 2013, Mujahid Yusof Rawa defeated Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Mua’amar Ghadafi Jamal Jamaludin with a 8,476-vote majority. It was the second comfortable win for Mujahid, who at that time was still with PAS.
Now part of Amanah, the splinter party formed in the wake of PAS’ divisive elections in 2015, Mujahid admits that his former party is still a forced to be reckoned with.
Almost two-third of voters here are Malays, while the Chinese make up the rest, with a tiny percentage of Indians.
It was here that PAS won its only federal seat in the first general election, in 1955.
But Mujahid believes that Amanah still has a chance to win here despite the age-old sentiments for PAS.
Speaking to FMT, the two-term MP said the Malay ground in Parit Buntar is diverse.
And recent developments have only split it further.
This means, PAS will have to choose its next candidate here carefully, for it will determine how the Malays, who form the bulk of PAS support, will vote at the coming polls, says Mujahid.
“The person should be a strong and influential figure,” said the son of the late Yusof Rawa, a former diplomat who went on to become the PAS spiritual leader, and respected by both PAS and Umno.
Speculation is that PAS will field its former Titi Serong assemblyman, Ahmad Azhar Sharin, while Umno will field the party’s current state secretary Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan.
He said unlike the Malay ground, the Chinese sentiment here is “clear”
“The Chinese sentiment in the area is very strong against the current government.
“High cost of living, GST and everyday issues are their main grouses. They are eager to change the current government,” he said.
But it is hard to gauge the Malays’ feelings, he added, saying the community has been largely “very quiet”.
“This doesn’t mean they support the government. It just means they could be reserving their anger and will only reveal it come election day.”
Mujahid said it was important that PPBM play a vital role in ensuring the Malay vote goes to Pakatan Harapan (PH), the coalition of four parties that Amanah is part of.
“Alone, it would not be easy for us to gain the support of the Malays after PAS exited the opposition coalition,” he said, referring to Pakatan Rakyat, which felt apart following differences between PAS and DAP.
Mujahid admits that some Malays might not sit well with PH.
“PPBM, as our partner, is a Malay-based party. With great figures like its chairman, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and its president, Muhyiddin Yassin, it will make inroads in capturing Malay support.”