PRU15 Gerik ~ Our Story

Elections always leave a trail of stories. For me, the arc from PRU12 Tumpat (2008), then PRU14 Pasir Puteh (2018) to PRU15 Gerik (2022) reads like a lesson in contrasts: three campaigns, but very different contexts, outcomes and comforts.

Tumpat felt less foreign because it was, in many ways, DAWD’s family ground. Even though we weren’t long‑time party activists, relatives, friends and shared local habits made the abruptness easier to absorb. Food, dialect, small courtesies, they smoothed first impressions and helped us blend quicker than expected.

Gerik was different. Announced barely three days before nomination, there was no runway: no preparatory visits, no warm-up with local constituencies, and few known faces among party volunteers. The campaign period, two intense weeks, became our only window to connect, explain and persuade.

When you arrive late, two things happen simultaneously: you race against time, and you must build trust while listening more than talking. There’s an economy to this kind of campaigning, you can’t be everywhere, so you must choose depth over breadth. Household visits, short listening sessions at markets, and introductions through a single trusted local became our reality rather than luxury.

Compare that with PRU14 Pasir Puteh (2018): meticulous maps, a volunteer for almost every kampung, and a sense that no corner was unexplored. There, meeting people felt systematic and complete. In Gerik, everything had to be improvised, which can yield authenticity, but rarely replaces sustained presence.

Kelantanese identity and the diaspora effect

Kelantanese have a distinct rhythm: merantau is part of life, and during holidays or elections, many return home. That mobility shapes who votes and how they decide. Voters living outside the state are often influenced by national narratives and federal issues more than local, day‑to‑day concerns.

[to be continued]