Slim Not An Easy Task

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DON'T turn the Slim by-election on August 29 into 'a slim chance for UMNO, Barisan Nasional and Muafakat Nasional'. The four-term record can be wrecked anytime by the opponents, and although PKR has announced not contesting, anything can happen

Looking at at, Slim is the only state seat for the Perikatan Nasional government now. During UMNO's 22-month period as an Opposition which saw Bersatu enjoying the Tanjung Malim parliamentary and Sungkai and Behrang state seats with PKR in the Pakatan Harapan government, the game is totally different now

Even the 2,183 majority secured by its candidate in GE14 was not a guarantee that UMNO can defend it in this by-election. The only consolation is the combined 12,000+ votes for UMNO-PAS for Muafakat Nasional

We don't even know who our opponents are

In the last general election, PKR secured a 5,358 majority votes for the parliamentary and won both in Sungkai and Behrang by 6,493 and 409 votes respectively. The whole constituent is PKR-dominated. Whether support for them is thinning or increasing after the fall of PH regime, is yet to be seen

However, UMNO, BN, MN (and maybe PN) cannot be complacent. This is not the time for comfort. Whoever the opponent is going to be, they are also fighting against old bad habit that are hard to die, especially when so many groups are involved

I don't think money is the problem anymore but who is getting more or less have always been the demoralising factor. Even who is lending one or two hands is an issue. Unless the machinery work alongside well, then all these questions can be addressed

Another thing very peculiar is Slim being in Perak state where UMNO President Zahid Hamidi comes from. Of course he wants the best on Aug 29, and anything less will be considered a setback for him and Perak UMNO

The election is important not only to UMNO, BN and MN but an acid test for their cooperation in PN government. Bersatu (on PM Muhyiddin's side) too would want a thunder victory as a big snub to its pro-Mahathir MPs

One thing for sure, Slim needs a larger oven, and don't forget the SOP that needs to be observed during campaigning and voting, the second after Chini by-election

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