'Analysts: PR To Keep FT Seats', The Malay Mail, 4 June 2012

Analysts: PR to keep FT seats Good response to BN programmes not indicator of support, say experts BARISAN NASIONAL will find it tough to win back all five parliamentary seats in the Federal Territory (FT) which fell into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat in the last general election. Political analysts believe that Pakatan Rakyat (PR), which has proven itself in the past four years, will retain the five seats — Batu, Titiwangsa, Wangsa Maju, Lembah Pantai and Bandar Tun Razak. The analyst were commenting on a statement by Federal Territory Umno liaison secretary Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee that the overwhelming public response to programmes carried out by the government in the FT clearly showed the people were fed-up with the Opposition for making empty promises...... Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Social Sciences deputy dean Prof Dr P. Siva Murugan said FT had always been difficult for BN as voters in the five areas evaluated various factors before casting their votes. “Even if there were many who attended the BN programmes it would not necessarily show a major swing towards BN. You have to wait until the 11th hour during the campaigning period,” he said. “As for BN, they are now using all the kinds of approach to reach to the voters and are working hard to win back the support. “However, it would be tough as these five areas have a Chinese majority. The selection of candidates also plays a vital role in winning votes.”