Face-to-face Campaigning Still Holds Sway Among Johor's Elderly Voters Despite Digital Surge
By Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah
JOHOR BAHRU, July 9 (Bernama) -- While the 16th Johor State Election campaign has been dominated by creative online content and digital psychological warfare, face-to-face campaigning continues to hold a unique appeal among elderly voters.
A Bernama survey found that despite the growing reliance on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, many senior voters still value a candidate's physical presence as a reflection of sincerity. They also appreciate the opportunity to personally observe the personality, demeanour and "aura" of those seeking their support.
At the same time, many acknowledged that social media has become an effective complementary campaign tool, particularly for those constrained by time, work commitments or health issues that prevent them from attending campaign events in person.
For A. Chandra, 70, a voter in the Perling state constituency, nothing compares to the experience of interacting with candidates face-to-face.
"It is far more enjoyable to attend campaign events in person. The atmosphere is much more engaging than simply watching a live stream at home. Here, we can meet candidates and political leaders from across the country ourselves," said the retired teacher.
Housewife Maimunah Ismail, 73, a voter in the Sedeli state constituency, shared a similar view, saying on-the-ground campaigning provides a better opportunity to assess a candidate's character.
"I prefer attending campaign events because it is easier to understand the message they want to convey. But when I'm at home, I still follow the campaign on my mobile phone through social media. I can even watch while doing household chores, such as folding laundry," she said.
Settler Saadon Mohamad, 72, acknowledged that political information is now widely available online and easily accessible, but said it could not replicate the atmosphere and excitement of face-to-face campaigning.
Meanwhile, Kempas voter Fairuz Saif, 59, dismissed the perception that senior citizens are not digitally literate.
However, he stressed that the effectiveness of online campaigning depends largely on how political parties package and deliver their messages.
"Digital campaigns should use simple language and concise content so that people of all ages can easily understand them. Nevertheless, face-to-face campaigning remains more effective because candidates can answer questions directly and inspire greater confidence among voters," he said.
Retired civil servant M. Sivathramani, 73, who has limited mobility due to physical injuries, said online campaigns have enabled him to stay informed about political developments without having to navigate large crowds at campaign venues.
"My mobility is somewhat limited now, so political parties' use of platforms like TikTok is very helpful. But if I have the opportunity, I would still like to go out and meet the candidates in person," said the Perling voter.
For grocery shop owner Lee Lian Chen, 58, business commitments mean she often turns to social media first to study candidates' manifestos and plans before making her final assessment on the ground.
"What matters most is whether candidates can deliver on their promises. We only vote once every five years, so their plans and ability to implement them are the most important considerations," said the Bukit Permai voter.
A senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Dr Nazreena Mohammed Yasin, said the current political landscape shows that physical and digital campaigning are no longer competing approaches but complement one another in reaching voters.
She said that although social media has become the primary source of political information for many, physical campaigns continue to hold sentimental value because they allow voters to experience the election atmosphere firsthand.
“At the same time, more senior citizens are now using platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp to follow political developments, watch live campaign broadcasts and obtain additional information," she said.
Nazreena noted that the way voters seek political information differs according to their background and generation, with some older voters continuing to rely on traditional media such as newspapers and television, while others have embraced digital platforms for their convenience and accessibility.
She added that for working adults, time constraints, job commitments and mobility issues make social media a practical way to keep up with campaign developments without attending physical rallies.
Overall, she observed that many voters now adopt a hybrid approach, combining firsthand experiences from campaign events with information obtained through social media before making their final decision at the ballot box.
A total of 2.7 million voters are expected to cast their ballots this Saturday to elect 56 representatives in the 16th Johor State Election.
For the latest news on the 16th Johor State Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/.
-- BERNAMA