By the looks of it, the run-up to the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election in Selangor, with polling to be held on May 11, seems guaranteed to go down in Malaysian history as one of the most bizarre and comical!
Interestingly, one of the first to offer a forecast of the result was ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir who openly predicted a DAP victory, though many who are familiar with his style quickly accused him of trying to play mind games. After all, isn't the former “statesman” a master in the art of reverse psychology?
Meanwhile, ex-DAP strongman Prof P Ramasamy, the former Perai assemblyman from Penang, seemed to have embarked on what must be one of craziest election campaigns ever after urging Indian voters “not to vote” for PH/DAP purportedly to teach PM Anwar’s unity government a costly lesson for allegedly shortchanging the community; this, not surprisingly, left many asking: “Is he on a revenge mission or what… to punish his ‘ex-employers’ DAP who had unceremoniously ditched him in the last state elections?"
Still, the most sensational of the lot must have been when ex-diplomat Dennis Ignatius called on non-Malay voters to “vote for the PN in order to save PH!” Sounds contradictory? Of course, the respected ex-government servant’s intention may have been good, but it definitely didn't sit well with many PH supporters though it must have sent hordes of awe-struck PN supporters into seventh heaven!
Come to think of it, perhaps, an unconvincing DAP win by a razor-thin majority, would be the most ideal as it will then “compel” PM Anwar and his shell-shocked PH comrades to sit up and take stock of where they had erred.
Meanwhile, “nobody's child” MCA seemed not interested at all with the by-election with one of their former leaders Ti Lian Ker asking (or was it sulking?): “So what if DAP wins?” True enough, win or lose, it will not change a thing for the grand old Chinese party - but won't a loss represent a humiliating blow to his cherished BN/Umno who are now an integral part of the unity government? But he did seem to echo the sentiments of several loyal PH supporters about teaching DAP a lesson… for becoming more and more like his own MCA?
As for poor old Gerakan, since the KKB seat has always been won by a Chinese candidate either from BN/MCA or DAP, its president Dominic Lau appeared to be over the moon, confident of being handed the seat, only to be disappointed (yet again?) at the eleventh hour, when a Malay candidate from Bersatu was chosen instead.
Then, to add to the madness, out of the blue, PN did the “unthinkable” by admitting an Indian-based party, the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), into its ranks; however, unexpectedly, this seemed to ruffle the feathers of Bersatu's “associate wing” who were clearly offended by the new party’s “backdoor” entry! (Puns not intended)
Nevertheless, PN seemed happy that PH’s candidate for the seat was DAP’s petite, pretty Pang Sock Tao, 31, who also happened to be housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming’s former press secretary; now, wouldn’t that provide them with some free fodder to bash DAP in front of the Malay voters - especially with the contentious Chinese new village saga still very much alive in everyone memory?
But having said that, PN's very own candidate Khairul Azhari Saut, 54, had admitted that it might be an uphill task to earn the trust and confidence of the Chinese electorate in KKB.
However, he expressed optimism that his coalition can easily leverage on PN’s past “achievements” by their generous leader and ex-prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin aka “Abah” who used to extend hand-outs to all citizens regardless of race - especially during his unforgettable Covid-19 “lockdown” rule!
Still, will that be sufficient to convince the Chinese voters to vote for a coalition that has earned a reputation for being champions of their own race and religion, while at times, labelling the others as kafirs and pendatangs - and generally making many of the latter feel like second-class citizens in the land they were born and bred?
In fact, the confident PN candidate had even cheekily intimated that his coalition had a secret "strategy” to win over the hearts of the Chinese voters in KKB; but again, will it be enough? After all, most crucially, don't the smart Chinese voters there already know for sure that a vote for PN will be a vote for PAS?
Information Source: Scoop
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