JAN 14 – I went to Terengganu on Jan 8 to assist the MCA in the campaign for the by-election, along with the party's Wanita and Youth members of the Kuala Terengganu division.
This is my first experience of a by-election as most of what I know about these things have been learned through media reports.
Our Firefly flight touched down at 8.30am and we decided not to check into the hotel and opted instead to get to work immediately after breakfast.
We covered about 50 shophouses in the city centre. Generally, the cheery greetings of “Happy Chinese New Year” or just “Happy New Year” were enough to win a smile from the traders and any customers in their shops.
We took some time to explain to the people the significance of the by-election, what is at stake and the reasons BN should receive their support.
On the way to lunch, we saw some officers from the town council cutting down and removing Barisan Nasional banners. It was a clear sign that the enforcers from the town council do not takes sides.
From the MCA leaders there, we understood that permits to hold ceramahs could be obtained only by applying through Pas or Umno since the candidates are from these parties.
During any election it is important that strict enforcement of orders are carried out without favour to prevent any untoward incident.
We had lunch in a local Malay shop and even bumped into some outstation reporters.
Businesses were opening early, we discovered, to capitalise on the crowd that have been flocking to KT for the by-election. The shopkeeper told us that shops like his usually only open for business after 6pm.
After lunch, we met up with the members of the Teochew Association of Kuala Terengganu, representing approximately 80 families who are mainly involved in small-time businesses.
We then adjourned to the Hock Kee Seng flats, which consist of three blocks, each of four storeys. It was a good walk and we were pleased with the response from the occupants. Generally, they seemed delighted and surprised to see us going up to the top floor to persuade them to vote for BN.
From past experience, or so my colleagues told me, a positive response from the voters does not automatically translate into votes on the polling day. Nevertheless, I was delighted that we encountered no animosity during our rounds, even when we came across the opposition campaign team.
Throughout the journey around KT, what surprised me was the relative absence of banners from both parties. It made me wonder if the masses of fluttering banners are a thing of the past or whether they would come out in the last phase as polling day draws near.
Peace and order are very well maintained and there were no rowdy incidents. This is not surprising considering the number of police and reserves being deployed to ensure the by-election proceeds smoothly.
I even spotted police helicopters circling around in the day and the presence of the policemen was felt at most major junctions.
There were a few ceramahs that I came across – around three by Pas and two by Umno, both with decent attendance.
Based on what I have gathered, I would not be surprise to see a lower turnout rate for the Chinese voters during this by election as nearly 10% to 20% of the registered voters are working outstation. Most of the residents we spoke to mentioned that their son or daughters were unlikely to travel back home to vote because of the distance and the timing of polling day.
On the voting trend, I could summarise from the short interactions and dialogues we had that the Chinese voters are generally not very enthusiastic about the Pas candidate’s track record and the party’s political agenda.
But they are equally displeased with certain Umno leaders. Statements made by the infamous Ahmad Ismail, the party’s handling of the issue and also, to a certain extent, Datuk Mukhriz, remain contentious issues among the Chinese.
They are unconvinced and wary about whether they should vote BN and hope that the changes going in UMNO and MCA are worth their support. To them, it is like being an egg between two rocks.
The opposition’s argument that BN will not lose control at the federal level if it loses the by-election seems to sway some fence-sitters but whether the momentum will last is anyone’s guess.
During the journey around, I took the opportunity to talk about how voters should use their votes wisely and that they should not be swayed by emotion as more banners and also “persuasive” messages would be bombarding them as polling day approached.
During voting in this by election, it is essential for voters to consider the following:
1) The candidate’s party which includes, among other things, its track record and ideology;
2) The quality of the candidate which in this by-election weighs on whether he is local, approachable, has the potential to fulfil his promise and his background.
3) The present ruling party at the state and federal level. For example, it would be easier for the state assemblymen and the member of parliament to coordinate activities and assistance if they are from the same party.
4) Whether an MP from BN or Pas would be more beneficial to the constituency. In this case, the BN candidate would be a deputy minister, which naturally offers numerous advantage.
In this by-election, every vote counts. As the majority of the voters are Malay, Pas maybe reinforcing the party stand on Hudud law as a strategy trade-off to garner more Malay support at the expense of Chinese votes.
After all, if Pas is really serious about hudud law, the party should start implementing it in the three states it is heading. Instead, it is used as a bait to gain more support at the federal level in order for Pas to convert Malaysia into an Islamic state.
Alternatively, Pas might be confident that hudud law is no longer a factor to the Chinese voters.
Nevertheless, what is confusing is that a minority of DAP leaders vehemently opposes Pas the stand in the media, especially Karpal Singh. Some of DAP leaders have even mentioned “over their dead body” (for hudud to be implemented) but other leaders in the party continue to toil in support of the Pas candidate. What exactly is the DAP position, one has to wonder, as its leaders seem to be heading in different directions.
Whether the hudud issue or the dissatisfaction of voters with certain Umno leaders and the MCA will be more important to the Chinese voters remains unclear at this juncture.
Apart from these factors, people should also start evaluating the five PR state governments, compared to the BN state government before they cast their votes on Jan 17.
Consideration should also be given to whether the PR state governments have implemented or fulfilled their manifesto, such as local council and village chief elections, welfare states and others.
What we have witnessed through the months after the last general election would seem that PR state governments are mainly keen on criticising the previous administration, bent on witch-hunts and discrediting their predecessors.
In this KT by-election, I urge the voters to be calm. We should not fall prey to the past or the future but to take cognisance of the present.
The present BN state government of Terengganu has served its people well and provided various welfare assistance and development to all races.
The previous BN Member of Parliament served his constituency well and I believe if the current BN candidate is elected, he will also endeavour to meet the benchmark set by the previous MP.
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