Winners and Losers in Hulu Selangor

After eight straight days of an all out campaign for the control of Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat the official results shows that BN candidate P. Kamalanathan upstage PKR's Zaid Ibrahim with a 1,725 majority to be elected the new MP for the large constituency.

Even though the by-election was a direct contest between the two candidates, there are many other victors and losers as well.

The Bosses

As expected the voters of Hulu Selangor were showered with goodies in the form of cash, development projects, land titles and PROMISES. For sure these are on top of the usual 10 KG pack of rice, Milo, cooking oil, drinking water, cheap T-shirts and caps and whatever that will make the day of the makciks and pakciks and the innocent kids.

The Towkays

From the popular kaya puff shop owner to the makcik who manned the roadside stall selling air sirap, these group will be hoping that by-elections will happen more often. Of course they are not cursing the newly elected MP to drop dead any soon but they can't be blamed if that aspiration is hiding behind their smiling face thinking of the flowing ringgits for the last two weeks.

The Candidates

P. Kamalanathan might have won the seat and will be greeted as YB but in the eyes of many including the community that he claims to represent he has lost his dignity and pride when he stoop so low to appease his political masters.

Zaid Ibrahim lost in this full fledge battle and having his personal matter stripped bare for the public view but his personal conviction for the interest of the people was given a strong endorsement. The people of HS will not be seeing the last of him yet.

The Commanders

Those in HS and outsiders who visited the place during the by-election has been wondering who is really the BN candidate? People noticed the large quantity of posters, billboards  and banners of his face in town might assumed Najib Razak is the candidate.

Najib Razak is actually the real winner here. He can now claim that the BN victory is an endorsement of his leadership and policies that he rolled out since appointed as Prime Minister a year ago. But then he need to reflect deeply on the 80% of Chinese votes that went to PKR, when translated meaning the Chinese actually still has doubts over his sincerity and policies.

Anwar Ibrahim has been in the forefront campaigning for his comrade since day one. Basing on the result, his popularity and support within the Malay community is not stable and if left unchecked it will be his Archilles heel in the next general election. On the other hand he  now knows he can count on the votes from the Chinese community and the support of DAP in mobilising election machinery within the community.

Muhyiddin Yassin is one big loser in this by-election. The usual Umno practice is for the party deputy president to lead the campaign in any by-election. Initially Muhyiddin was in charge but when the tide was favoring PR, his boss Najib decided to fly straight from Japan to HS to lead the campaign. This gives the impression that Najib has no confidence on Muhyiddin leadership and a slap on the face of his deputy.

Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor Menteri Besar learn the trade to pull all the plugs as the state government to utilised all state facilities support this by-election from his predecessors but too bad that Felda is not under the control of the state government. Maybe he should be more a shrewd politician rather than a businessman when handling people from Umno.

Tok Guru Nik Aziz influence and endearment amongst the Chinese community is now gone beyond Kelantan. If he is still able to keep his momentum by the next election and campaign in BN stronghold like Johore, the Chinese voters there might shake some of the seats occupied by MCA/BN.

Lim Kit Siang is already a household name amongst the HS electorates, Malays included. Thanks to Utusan Malaysia for giving him the "coverage" from time to time. As for the Chinese voters, his presence in every political stops wstill accords him a star speaker status. With an increased of support from the Chinese, efforts need to be taken for him to penetrate the Malay electorates for the next election.

Chua Soi Lek the recently elected MCA president was not around in HS most of the time as he was said to be overseas visiting his daughter. He was only seen when Najib is in HS. His presence was nothing more than an extra in a show with Najib in the leading role. He must now dig out whatever reasons he can to explain to Najib the Chinese rejection of MCA, or is it more on Umno or he himself personally?

The Political Parties

MIC is the party of P.Kamalanathan but the party that really campaigned with whatever tricks of the trade is Umno. From the onset of this by-election it can be noticed and proven that it is Umno that called all the shots and decision making process, from the selection of candidates to whether MIC president Samy Vellu should show his face in HS. People are reminded that MIC is now Muhyiddin-In-Charge.

UMNO can now claim that the Malays are truly backing them and they have contained PKR and PAS especially PR supremo Anwar Ibrahim. But they will be barking at Chua Soi Lek asking for explanation why MCA failed to secure the Chinese votes. With millions of taxpayers money pumped into the pockets of the voters, the platform is now set for the mother of all battles - the 13th general election.

PKR losing another parliamentary seat is a big blow not just to the party but also the Pakatan Rakyat as this has increased the BN potential to reclaim 2/3 majority in Parliament. The result also shows that PKR is losing grip on whatever balance of support they have since March 2008. This party really need to revamp their election machinery if they are serious of winning seats and capturing Putrajaya.

DAP rocketing growth in terms of membership and branches since March 2008 has been a boost to the PR by-election machinery. Even though PKR lost the seat but support for the DAP is on the rise. This can be observed from the numbers of self paying volunteers from all over the country helping out in the campaign and also the huge attendance in DAP organised events during the by-election.

MCA provided token support to the BN election machinery. This is not surprising since they just went through more than one year of internal strife. Their machinery are moving half heartedly and other than some cameo appearances by some of their ministers and deputy ministers, their presence are hardly noticeable. From the result, it is not surprising if many of the 8,000 MCA members in HS voted for Zaid Ibrahim.

PAS was initially slow in mobilising their party machinery in doing real campaign work to solicite for votes even though their presence during nomination day was huge. After few days of snail paced movement which cause the Malay heartland in Felda further entrenched with Umno, PAS began to push into the Felda areas. The arrival of Tok Guru Nik Aziz provided the confidence booster but just not enough to draw out the votes.

GERAKAN which once upon time a party to be reckoned with do not even make its' presence felt in HS. Maybe only during nomination when its' president Koh Tsu Koon was a given a cameo appearance.

IPF, campaign even in death?

PPP, who is the president?

The power-play and battle of wits in HS is now over. It is time for the locals to re-claim their life in this outback district. But life would not be the same anymore. The people there now must look through their checklist on all the promises and commitments by both side of the political divide.

First thing in the morning, the people of Rasa will be waiting in front of Najib's PM office door for their RM3 million as promised. A promise is a promise even if the people of Rasa did not vote for BN. But wonders if MACC will be there too? - Loka

Nik Aziz man extraordinaire

It was about 10pm and the usually quiet town of Rasa was full of energy and vibrancy. For many people in this small town, it must be the first time in their life that they are meeting in flesh and blood the most influential Muslim leader in Malaysia. For those uninitiated, this turbaned small frame figure wearing long flowing robe covered with a vest and supported with a walking stick can be just another typical Muslim going to the surau nearby for his prayers.

But this Pak Haji is no ordinary Malay-Muslim that we usually sees around us. This man can easily sway at least 30% of the Muslims in this country  on any other issue of the day. Even at age 79 and sometimes troubled with fatigue he still traversed all over the country speaking and meeting with his staunched party supporters and followers of the Islamic faith. This extraodinary man is Nik Abdul Aziz or affectionately known as Tok Guru who is the Mursyidul Am or spiritual adviser of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) and Chief Minister for the State of Kelantan for the last 20 years.

The mostly Chinese crowd of about 2,000 attending the PKR campaign dinner at the Dewan Serbaguna JKKK Rasa were very excited and curious to see and listen to the Tok Guru for the first time. Earlier outside the main road groups of men wearing turban or ketayap who are most probably PAS members and supporters had waited for their Tok Guru's arrival for his maiden speech to the Chinese community in Rasa.

The roofted open-air basketball court where the dinner was held provided the necessary shade from the short shower minutes earlier. Those who did not managed to purchase the RM30 a seat dinner encircled around the hall to listen to the speeches.

While other speakers spoke from a rostrum, Nik Aziz was seated on a plastic chair on stage. Having just returned from Mecca, he is still recovering from fatigue. The stage is now left to him to deliver his message to the voters of Rasa. Tok Guru in his stern and fatherly voice transmitted his message to the audience to support the PR candidate Zaid Ibrahim. The audience are those who are already converted, meaning already prepared to support Zaid but they came to listen anyway as it is not always the Tok Guru visits Rasa.

Tok Guru task in getting the Chinese support will not be much of a problem but he will be facing huge challenge to turn over the core Umno supporters in Ulu Bernam. It will be an uphill task but if he can convert 5% - 10% of the Malay-Muslim voters, Zaid should be able to scrap through with a small majority.

The day of reckoning will be on April 25 and the nation waits for the result of the most eagerly contested by-election in recent memory. The result will be a preview on the direction of the nation's political agenda in the near future.

P.S. - While writing this article on the Tok Guru, I can't avoid from thinking of another religious man extraordinaire which I had the affinity to know personally, i.e. the late Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera who is also fondly known as "The Chief" by his devotees and those close to him. These two great men of religion truly provided the platform and cultivate the landscape that reflects the true meaning of living in a multi-religious Malaysia. - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 3

Snippets 3 - Kerling hotter then the hot springs

Before the North South Expressway was built to connect Johore to the north, travellers who is driving up north to Penang or Kedah will need to take the Federal trunk road. This trunk roads are narrow, winding and passes by many towns and villages, which means many stops due to local vehicles, pedestrian and animals crossings, traffic lights and etc.

The good point is travellers will have the chance to savour local delicacies and fruits from stalls set up at the road side. On top of that there are many local attractions which tired travellers can take a rest and enjoy the nature offerings.

Kerling hot springs is one of them but I did not visit to the place until now. During the campaign trail, one of the stop is the Kerling Chinese new village which I was informed the local DAP branch has been surviving there thru thick and thin for so many years.

Basing on the banners and posters strewn all over, this must be a hot spot to be fought over, just like the hot springs further deeper inside the village.

Maybe will take a dip in the Kerling hot springs after all settled down. - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 2

Snippets 2 - From 80 to 20

The Asam Kumbang new village in Kuala Kubu Baru has been MCA's stronghold for many years. The previous KKB assemblyman C'hng Toh Eng served there for many terms. The current assemblyman MCA's Wong Koon Mun won the seat with 448 majority against DAP's S. Ramu in the 2008 general election.

MCA is so strong in this village that 80% of the adult villagers are known to be members of the party. That's truly a remarkable feat until the 2008 Political Tsunami when the Selangor state government changes from BN to PR. This means the right to appoint the village chief are in the hands of the new government and a new village chief was duly appointed to replace the previous one.

The new village chief, Mr. Goh Tian Lai

Interestingly the new village chief, Goh Tian Lai, is also a life-long member of MCA! He divulged that after the PR government took over and provide the necessary support and assistance to the village, the support for MCA dropped from 80% to the current 20%! On the day I met him, he and some other villagers were busy making preparation in the village multipurpose community hall for the night's DAP event to campaign for PR candidate.

DAP dinner at the Asam Kumbang new village multipurpose hall

The pride of the village i.e. the multipurpose hall is managed by the village security and welfare committee headed by the village chief. The hall has been fully used for PR events during the by-election period. The MCA ends up have to set up tents at the road side and other open space for their events. Now they know how it feels to be in the opposition! - Loka

P#94 Hulu Selangor Snippets 1

Snippets 1 - Not too old to change

Mr. Hong, the Hainanese owner of the Yoot Loy Coffeeshop in Kuala Kubu Baru is 80 this year. He started his coffeshop more than 30 years ago with the support of his friends. He was a former Homeguards security member during the Emergency period ( 1948 - 1960). He is still waiting for a letter of commendation from the government for his service to the King and country.

Photographs of both Prime Minister Najib Razak and Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim having a drink (only black coffee, not Johnnie Walker Black Label ) in different occasions are pasted on opposite walls of the shop. Hong junior was disappointed when he saw Lim Kit Siang outside the shop few days ago but Kit Siang did not walk in. As a businessman he welcomes all to his shop, disregard of their political affiliations. As long as they pay for their bills!

His crypted response and body language tells that even if he is a card carrying member of MCA, which is part of the BN coalition, his vote on April 25 may not necessary goes to the coalition. The claims of 8,000 MCA members amongst the 16,000 voters in Hulu Selangor may be true but turning that into votes for BN is another matter altogether.

By the way, the toast with home made kaya spread and butter is one of the most popular item in this shop.- Loka