MELAKA: Does Pas possess credibility in the eyes of Melaka voters, or, within a smaller spectrum, its ally Umno?
Such is the question which warrants a cynic's laughter, as Pas did not win any seat in the 14th General Election (GE14) under its own brand, Gagasan Sejahtera.
It does not take anyone with the gravitas of a deep thinker to conclude that the Islamist party might end up being among the biggest losers come Saturday.
The image, as well as the disposition, of these turbaned and skull-capped men since its leaders were appointed to ministerial positions, save for a few, has been found wanting of late.
Apart from Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's series of media faux pas, Pas leaders Idris Ahmad and Awang Hashim have also recently displayed their utter arrogance upon being cornered by a reporter who raised a question on Kedah's gambling ban.
Word has it that the viral video clip on the duo's interaction with the reporter had Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin rubbing his temples in regret.
Such a toxic disposition is a far cry from Pas's previous soft approach when dealing with contentious issues or sensitive topics.
Idris's and Awang's uncouth behaviour, especially in the eyes of non-Malays, has likely further narrowed Pas's chances of getting substantial support in the Melaka election; there is nary a need for their rivals to raise the spectre of hudud in the campaign.
Pas, under PN's ticket, is running for the state seats of Kuala Linggi, Taboh Naning, Durian Tunggal, Kelebang, Bukit Katil, Duyong, Serkam and Merlimau.
These are all the same Malay-majority seats that it had lost devastatingly in GE14, gaining only between 8.5 per cent and 21.7 per cent of the total votes in a series of three-cornered fights.
These are also the same ones the party claims to have vote banks in that would help to carry it through the election. The only seat Pas may have pinned a sliver of hope on is Serkam, where 90 per cent of the population are Malays.
In 2018, BN won the seat and Pas came neck and neck instead with its splinter Parti Amanah Negara by garnering 21.7 per cent of the votes against 23.3 per cent. That's the highest percentage of votes Pas had won in Melaka in GE14.
Hence, it is rather perplexing (or comical) that Melaka Umno behemoth Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh expressed confidence Pas voters, who are supportive of the Umno-Pas pact Muafakat Nasional, would cast the ballot for Umno instead.
Rauf's sentimental ideals, however, backfired as Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has instructed party members to vote exclusively for PN, eliminating the possibility of Umno scraping the barrel for Pas votes.
On its campaign strategy, Pas's heavy reliance on traditional methods of ceramah and group walkabouts has negated efforts to even introduce its candidates to the mainstream voters, following the introduction of the Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
Worse, the party seems to be busy highlighting its success in banning gambling in Kedah, rather than expanding on key local issues, including health, education, welfare and public infrastructure.
This is not to say Pas did not take its campaign online, which is, unfortunately, another snoozefest, to say the least.
Its Twitter page, for instance, is constantly spliced with Idris's esoteric words of wisdom under his "Catatan Duha" series.
Some of the pledges posted by its candidates were also opaque in nature and akin to the narratives outlined by the common political promises of "kita akan kaji".
For example, its candidate for the Bukit Katil state seat, Muhammad Al Afiz Yahya, promised to create a more "trustworthy" government, take "immediate" action on complaints and introduce a "more effective" management of floods aid.
At the time of writing, there are no specifics or mechanisms presented to reach such goals to convince the electorate.
Pas has, once again, come unprepared for the election and likely, riding on the coattails of PN.
And still, some of its leaders today are too arrogant despite a diminishing reputation.
