Lacking funds and short on issues, PAS is fast crumbling under the BN onslaught.

MALACCA: PAS is struggling to stay "afloat" in Merlimau as its campaign machinery slowly falls apart due to lack of funds and issues.

The party is groping for a "handle" to stay afloat in the face of certain defeat as the Barisan Nasional (BN) forged ahead after five days of vigorous campaign.

PAS' campaigners from Johor had already "thrown in the towel" and had packed and gone home while many more are expected to follow suit. The Islamist party has so far failed to gain ground in the political battle to destabilise or reduce BN's support in Merlimau.

Some PAS members said the campaigners are hampered by the lack of funds which had been promised to them by Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

PAS has also failed to identify issues that will "stick" with the voters as Islamic and national topics do not seem to kindle any interest in the voters who are mainly working in factories, plantations, fishing sector or doing their own businesses.

Besides, PAS partners in the Pakatan coalition are of little help, with DAP's ceramah pulling in dwindling crowds while PKR is considered ineffective.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim did attract a 1,000-strong crowd but the issues he highlighted like the revolution in Egypt did not interest the locals. The constituents are more interested in bread-and-butter issues.

Thus PAS, still licking its wounds after straight defeats in Tenang and Galas, does not seem to have learnt their mistakes.

The Islamist party's main drawback is that it lacks the expertise and skill in choosing candidates.

Not saleable

In Tenang, Johor, PAS' Normala Sudirman, although well accepted by the women folk and admired by the men, had no political substance to be able to represent the constituency.

Now in Merlimau, the party is making the same mistake – it has picked a candidate, Yuhaizad Abdullah, who is not "saleable" at all to the locals.

Yuhaizad's educational background is questionable as many observers believe he does not even have basic academic qualification that could at least make the locals respect him.

As the saying goes, "do it right the first time and everything will be on track", but PAS did it wrong the first time and everything is going off track.

Given PAS "critical" condition, the battle is considered as good as lost even before the "referee blows the final whistle".

In the BN camp, although confidence is high, the coalition is leaving "no stones unturned' in its drive to ensure a higher majority.

Pundits now are betting that BN will obtain more 3,500-vote majority – and the number is still rising.