The voters here, over 50,000 in all, are demanding big changes amid a palpable air of disappointment.

For one, Malays, who make up about 57% of the electorate in this constituency located on the southwestern tip of Johor, are disappointed with the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government over unfulfilled manifesto promises.

These include those in the fishing villages who say nothing has changed since PH took over last year.

Fisherman Jofri Abdul Rahim, 46, said catches are shrinking, making it difficult to earn a living.

He agreed that the previous administration had let them down but said the PH government was no different.

He gave the example of the construction of the Tanjung Pelepas Port which he said had affected fishermen’s daily catch.

“But if we go down to the sea and there are no fish, we’re just wasting fuel,” he told FMT.

He added that the national park and a golf resort in Kukup are about the only developments that have taken place in Tanjung Piai since the PPBM-led coalition took over the state.

“But when there is an election, projects and aid are given.”

His disappointment was shared by Shamshudin Md Sairi, 48.

Shamshudin is convinced that Barisan Nasional (BN) will win the by-election on Nov 16, as long as it fields an Umno candidate.

This could be true as many whom FMT interviewed appeared to be staunch BN supporters.

Anuar Abas, 46, for example, said he would vote for BN regardless of whether the candidate is Malay or Chinese.

Tanjung Piai has traditionally been contested by MCA candidates. In the general election last year, the late Dr Md Farid Md Rafik of PPBM won with a majority of 524 votes against Wee Jeck Seng (BN-MCA) and Nordin Othman (PAS).

About 57% of voters in the constituency are Malay, 42% Chinese and 1% Indian.

For the youths, the by-election presents an opportunity to punish PH for what is perceived as broken promises.

Shah, 24, said a PH defeat would send a strong message to the coalition.

“If PH doesn’t win, it means the people have lost faith in PH,” he said, adding however that PH’s economic policies looked good.

For fisherman Ah Seng, both PH and BN, which are expected to go head to head, are “lousy”.

No fan of MCA himself, Ah Seng is banking on an Umno candidate to represent the former ruling coalition.

“We are burdened by the cost of living. Imagine, a cup of tea at a mamak shop costs RM2.20,” he said.

“Fishermen like us are also burdened with licensing problems and so on, so we want change.”