Tik Tok campaigning hip in Johor

By Nor Baizura Basri

JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- A few days ago, I stumbled upon a Tik Tok video of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin doing a fun skit on the latest “I have type” trend, making him the latest politician in Johor to hop on to the Tik Tok bandwagon, which currently has the highest number of social media users in the country. 

He might be the most veteran politician contesting in Johor in the 15th General Election (GE15), defending the Pagoh parliamentary seat for the 10th time, but he certainly does not want to miss reaching out to the younger voters. 

At 75, Muhyiddin is apparently showing more “hip” compared to his younger opponents -- former Muar Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Razali Ibrahim from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Iskandar Shah Abdul Rahman, the candidate from Pakatan Harapan.

Razali, 52, posted his first Tik Tok video at the end of last month while Iskandar Shah, 41, two days ago, compared to the Perikatan Nasional chairman who first posted his videos in September last year, and now has more than 80,000 followers.

This is despite the Pagoh parliamentary seat having 69,939 voters, of whom 18,542 are aged between 18 and 29, the age group that probably makes up the largest users of Tik Tok.

Also on the Tik Tok bandwagon is Pengerang incumbent MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-UMNO), who also joined the “I have type” trend. 

However, new candidates from all parties, are seen preferring to use traditional ways of meeting people like going door-to-door, having mobile political events and playing badminton, futsal, e-sports as well as hosting fishing and bird singing competitions.

Veteran candidates such as UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan even organised concerts in Pontian, where local artistes such as Datuk Hattan and Ezad Exist performed the main act, attracting audiences from different age groups  

The Barisan Nasional candidate is defending the parliamentary seat for the fourth time against Senator Datuk Isa Ab Hamid (PN-Bersatu), Shazwan Zdainal (rpt) Zdainal Abidin (PH) and Jamaluddin Mohamad (Pejuang).

Former world number one shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei also made a “grand appearance” for the BN candidate for Tebrau, Datuk Nicole Wong Siaw Ting, yesterday.

The badminton icon spent about one and a half hours playing badminton and engaging with some 200 fans during the Tebrau Cup Tournament here.

The vibes for GE15, despite all that, are seen as lacklustre and without the crowds, plus the heavy rains deterring the public from embracing the campaigns.

For rural seats like Kota Tinggi, Tenggara and Mersing, the case is more of party workers actively promoting their candidates there.

Candidates from PH and other parties are more moderate in their campaigning, focusing more on public ‘ceramah’ (talks) and other normal forms of campaigning.

A total of 96 candidates are contesting the 26 parliamentary seats in Johor.

BN is contesting all the 26 seats while Pakatan Harapan has fielded candidates in 24.

Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) is contesting 11 seats, five Independent candidates are contesting four seats, MUDA is standing in two seats while Parti Rakyat Malaysia and Parti Warisan have fielded one candidate each.

Johor is not holding an election for its 56 state seats as it was held only in March this year 

-- BERNAMA