By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
PENANTI, May 30 — Many locals here believe the by-election, no matter what the outcome, bears no significance as far as real change is concerned.
They say they would vote, but political parties on both sides of the divide have yet to prove their worth to the locals engulfed by the many problems affecting them for so many years like poverty and unemployment.
Many feel previous PKR assemblyman and former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin made slight but insignificant changes compared when the seat was under Barisan Nasional rule.
Some have placed much expectations on PKR candidate Dr Mansor Othman, who is already an unpopular figure despite his local boy status, to change things but others say there won't be much difference even if he wins.
"We want development here," said a fruit stall owner who wanted to be known only as Tan.
"But Fairus never even come to visit the people here. Maybe he did in the early days after he won but after that, we didn't see him at all.
"Maybe he is too young and ambitious, he wanted too many posts and so he can't take care of Penanti that well because he is too busy," said Tan, who has spent 40 of his 56 years living in Penanti.
Another Penanti resident, A. Muniandy, 43 and a worker at a quarry nearby, said many issues like jobs have long been a problem and PKR, just like BN, has done little to address this.
"Some of us still can't get jobs after 10 years of trying. Mansor must help solve this problem. Unemployment rate here is really bad. He must also help the poor here," he said, adding that the Indian community here is not getting enough help from either side.
Having Pakatan Rakyat bigwigs like PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and influential Penang DAP Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng making regular visits here have so far failed to uplilft broken spirits, he said.
Restaurant owner Khor Tony, 50, says the same about this, expressing indifference to the ceramahs held every night for eight days despite the all-star line-up.
He however believes that Mansor can and will help the locals if he becomes Penanti's representative but just as common as any reaction given by anyone here if asked about the overall atmosphere of the by-election, he feels it would have been better if BN was around.
"Better for my business what. No BN not as lively as it could have been," he said.
Ask any businessmen here and you'll get the same reaction.
Zainal Hussein, a 68-year-old fruit seller who claimed to have worked side by side with Malay pop icon P. Ramlee, said it would have been better for his business if BN had contested but cared not about what was going on in his own hometown.
"I just want this (by-election) to settle quick. What is most important is business goes on as usual and my income comes in as usual," he said.
Asked what they all thought about having to return to the ballot box for the third time in less than a year and a half, most of them have resorted to accepting it.
"What to do. We just vote la," said Tan. Muniandy, however, hoped that he would not have to vote again until the next general election, saying it was time to focus on other things.
They will all cast their hope for a better future together with their votes tomorrow.
"But this time, there better be real change," said Muniandy.
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As you can see from the article, the people want change. I could feel their disappointment. They don't care who wins - they're tired of no development or lack of development. They don't care who talks in the ceramah. They've poured their grievances - you MUST listen because BN won't. Don't just become an MP and forget about the people who voted you.
You have heard them speak, if you win, you HAVE TO show that you're better than BN by doing what you're supposed to do - help the people. Help the town. Go visit them.
I pray that you win BIG tomorrow, and I pray harder that after that sweet victory, you seriously get your asses to work if you want to continue getting support from your voters... or else this will be the last for you.