By-election
BN assemblyman Datuk Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan died on Dec 27. The Election Commission has set Jan 16 as Nomination Day and, in the event of a contest, Jan 28 for polling in the by-election.
In the 2004 general election, Tengku Paris garnered 5,414 votes, defeating Dr Mohamed Nilam Abdul Manap of Pas by a 2,761-vote majority.
BN youth intends to win the hearts and minds of Batu Talam voters. They also intend to motivate support from among the young. Pahang BN chairman Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said BN would hold a 12-day campaign to enable the people to voice their complaints.
Umno Youth chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein would officially launch the wing’s election machinery on Jan 13.
About 27 per cent of the 10,525 voters in Batu Talam are aged between 21 and 40. The BN Youth machinery would make sure that all eligible young people cast their votes in the by-election.
Bernama reports that Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa had asked the EC to “clean up the electoral roll for the constituency. They will meet to decide whether the party should contest the by-election.
Meanwhile, Pahang MCA deputy chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow who is also Deputy Internal Security Minister said the party would work to get all 1,231 Chinese voters in Batu Talam to support BN.
This by-election will be closely watched by political analysts. In the year 2006, the people have had their spending power significantly reduced due to the increase in fuel prices. No doubt the country cannot subsidize the price of petroleum forever but will the BN election machinery be able to explain to the voters and get through to the voters this message? They failed miserably during the recent Sarawak State elections.
A BN component party has been receiving flak from its members all over the country due to symbolism. It will have to explain the issue well lest it be played-up by the opposition. Will the 27 per cent of the 10,525 voters in Batu Talam who are aged between 21 and 40 still be so respectful of politicians…..non- questioning and accepting everything in the press and the mainstream media?
What will the main issues harped on by the opposition ?
How will the votes swing? Our PM has been at the helm long enough for the people to know his policies and despite those who oppose him in the media, he has his fair share of supporters.
Batu Talam will be facing a media circus as the media converges on it as the by-election hots up. What will be the main issues? The Chinese who make up 11.7% of the votes …will they deliver for the BN? Will the electoral roles will be cleaned up in time?
In spite of many quarters alleging unfair distribution of coverage in the media in the past, supposedly unfair election practices, this country has always had clean elections. Yours truly has faith that the election commission will do its task well in this by-election as it has done in all previous elections.
Let us all hope for a good, clean election based on issues but not character asssination. The people are politically matured now. They are not easily fooled so propaganda will fail to work. Deliver the facts : let the people make their own judgement.
Bengbeng | Politics and politicians
