KUCHING: Party flags have sprung up in just about every street, nook and corner as the campaign pace picks up ahead of the Nov 19 general election.
Even in this day and age when one could argue that material presence like flags do little to sway voters in comparison to the voluminous amount of information on social media, political parties cannot resist the temptation to jostle for flag space.
They are leaving nothing to chance in keeping to the tried and tested approach to psy-war before polling day.
But to the uninitiated – like a visiting tourist couple from Korea, I had to explain to them that the election is approaching and the flags hanging by the roadside is a tradition in the country.
“I see. Thank you,” said the Korean visitor after my explanation to him and his wife, as he curiously tried to read the GPS logo on the flag.
But one thing is certain – the atmosphere is having an effect, especially among the young. Or so it seems.
Lian, 27, of Sarikei said she is excited about casting her vote the second time around.
“I am excited to see what will be the outcome of the election,” said Lian who has been a waitress in the city for the past two years.
“Now, the PH and BN parties are contesting and I think they will pose quite a challenge to GPS in some places,” she added.
Lian said she planned to apply for leave from her employer to cast her vote.
On the other hand, there are also some who said they are expecting a 50/50 win as the election is more concentrated in Semenanjung Malaysia.
“Of course, we want Sarawak representatives but, I think we may just have a 50/50 chance,” said Lai (not his real name) as he helped his PSB peers and supporters put up their flags alongside the GPS and DAP flags which were already lining up the KMC Flat area.
Another voter who was reluctant to be named said his employer would not grant him any day off to vote but that this would not make any difference.
“It seems it does not matter who we vote for … the politicians are all the same and I think the outcome will still be the same,” he said without elaborating.
Perhaps the flag war on the streets is designed to especially change the minds of such voters – to convince them that their vote does matter. And that they should thus take the trouble to head to the ballot box come Nov 19.
And who knows, one of the party flags along the way may help them decide who to pick.
