Meeting the people: Liow speaking during an NGO dinner in Bentong.

Lurah Bilut stands tall as the nation’s first Felda scheme, pioneered by settlers from all races from different parts of the country.

LURAH BILUT is just about 19km away from Bentong. It is a huge piece of fertile land located near Sungai Bilut and the Kelau forest reserve.

It is safe to say that most Malaysians, especially those staying in the cities, have never heard of this place and have no reason to come here.

But Lurah Bilut is not only the first Felda scheme in the country but one that was pioneered by settlers from all races after independence.

In this 12,920-acre (5,228ha) enclave, located within the Bentong parliamentary constituency, there are Malays, Chinese, Indians and the Orang Asli, and their children can go to either the national school or the national-type schools where the medium is in Chinese or Tamil.

The scheme was opened in 1957 and each settler was given 10 acres (4ha) of land. According to records, the first batch of settlers who entered the scheme on Aug 2, 1959, was from Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. They were brought into the area by bus and were shocked to find themselves in a jungle.

One Chinese settler, who arrived here in 1959 from Negri Sembilan with just his clothes on his back, was given tools to hack away at the dense growth, according to one report. There is one road here called Jalan Pulau Pinang, because the settlers came from Penang.

As with everything that is new and untested, the settlers had to be imbued with a sense of adventure. Certainly they could not foresee the success that Felda would turn out to be eventually. Thus these early settlers in Lurah Bilut came to be known as the Pioneering Bulls and have become some kind of a legend in this Felda scheme.

Felda was set up to eradicate rural poverty through the use of effective agricultural methods to cultivate cash crops such as rubber and oil palm. In recent years, there has also been special emphasis on diversification to deal with the fluctuations in commodity prices.

On my visit to this Felda scheme, it was clear that many were eager to share their experiences with me. There is a sense of pride over what has taken place here.

Strategising: Wong meeting with his team of campaigners at his service centre in Bentong.

I am sitting at a restaurant opposite the Lurah Bilut Chinese school where the Barisan Nasional campaigners are having their lunch break.

A vegetarian meal has been prepared for incumbent MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and as he sat down at the table, the MCA deputy president invited those at the table to share his vegetarian dishes.

But many jokingly told him that they would take his share of meat instead, a joke which he has heard many times.

The Bentong parliamentary seat which Liow won with a 12,585 majority when he polled 51,340 votes against his PKR opponent R. Ponusamy’s 12,585 votes is regarded as a safe seat for the Barisan Nasional.

The current electorate of 62,400 voters comprise 43.9% Chinese, 44.6% Malays, 9.4% Indians, 0.5% Orang Asl and the rest, others.

Liow is expected to deliver this seat to the BN but no one is taking any chances this time because of the perception that the Chinese sentiments against the BN are very strong, even in Bentong where they have always been traditionally pro-BN.

Even the Bilut state seat, held by the MCA, is under threat from the Pakatan Rakyat. Liow has to work extra hard to campaign for 36-year-old Leong Kim Soon, who is contesting this seat. Leong’s grand uncle is the late Tan Sri Chan Siang Sun, who was the legendary MP for Bentong.

Leong, who is the political secretary to Liow, is facing DAP’s Chow Yu Hui.

In this rural setting, the two have gone from door to door, under the hot afternoon sun, to shake the hands of every voter.

Said a campaigner: “This is a crucial area as it is racially mixed and we want to cover as much ground as possible.”

Unlike the Felda schemes in Johor, especially, where Pakatan Rakyat candidates are literally chased away by the settlers, the PR workers have been able to put up their flags and banners, an indication that a fight is at hand.

In the Bentong town centre, Liow’s challenger is Wong Tack, who made a name for himself as the anti-Lynas campaigner. In his green T-shirt, Wong was raising environment issues but his credentials have taken a knock after he was exposed as the owner of a 1,000-acre (404ha) oil palm estate in Sabah.

Wong also had to fend off the revelation that he held Canadian permanent residence status, explaining that it was cancelled by the Canadian authorities because he did not go back to the country.

But the BN campaigners have been hammering on that issue, questioning why there was a need for him to collect donations at every ceramah when he is pretty well off financially.

They asked how many of the voters, especially settlers, could even dream of owning 1,000 acres of land and if they knew how much money had been collected so far.

But Wong seems undeterred by these issues, saying he was well-prepared to challenge Liow for Bentong, and also Mentri Besar Datuk Adnan Yaacob, who is contesting in the Pelangai state seat, under Bentong.

Wong’s campaigners, mostly youngsters, are visibly seen in town, especially at the market, where they aggressively tell voters to go for change.

One Universiti Malaya student said she had volunteered to canvass votes for Wong because she had been actively involved in the anti-Lynas campaign.

“My belief in him remains the same. I will still support him and the DAP, nothing will change my stand,’’ the third-year student said. She said her parents knew that she was campaigning and wholeheartedly supported her.

Her friends, many eager to express their views, said they were using their own expenses to stay in Bentong.

At the Bentong Jaya coffeeshop, the discussions focus on the sentiments of the Chinese, swayed by DAP’s talk that Pakatan Rakyat would take over the Federal Government. Only a few were cautiously warning about the implications of the Chinese voting themselves out of the government.

A businessman from Kuala Lumpur said he had been trying to explain to some Chinese voters that while their sentiments are pro-Pakatan, the majority of Malays would be backing Barisan.

“The huge crowd at DAP ceramah can be deceiving because the Malay style of campaigning, in Felda areas, is to have small get-together sessions, prayers at the suraus and house to house visits. As these are not visible, the Chinese think the huge crowd means PR would take over,” he said.

In Bentong, the local dialect is Kwong Sai, which originates from Guangxi province in southern China. As we continued with our drinks, the locals at the neighbouring tables were listening attentively.

The politicians and campaigners have been doing all the talking so far but come May 5, the voters will be doing the talking via the ballot box. The stand of the majority in Bentong would be known then.

For more election stories, please visit The Star’s GE13 site

This is a democratic country and we are free to voice our opinion. — International movie star Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh defending her support of Barisan leader Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

The anger directed at those who do not share the same political beliefs is getting out of hand, especially in cyberspace.

SOMETHING is seriously wrong with us when anyone who expresses support for the Barisan Nasional is viciously attacked by cyber bullies. And this is more so when that person happens to be from the Chinese community.

To the fanatical supporters of Pakatan Rakyat, it is an unforgivable act of treason for anyone from that community to back the Barisan government.

The impression given, unfortunately, is that the Chinese must stand up against Barisan.

It seems ironic that the other major communities – Malays and Indians who are also being courted by both sides – are not subjected to the same “us-or-them” siege mentality.

It is a dangerous trend and, if not properly addressed, the cyber bullies, emboldened by the anonymous nature of the social media, would be further encouraged to intensify their attacks.

Their most high-profile target to date is international actress Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh who is being vilified in cyberspace simply because she has exercised her democratic right to support the Barisan. She has made no secret of the fact that Barisan is her choice and that she genuinely believes Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is the best person to lead the country.

The whole point of having a general election is that the people are given freedom to choose who they think is the best political party to govern the country. Whether a voter chooses to support Barisan or Pakatan, that fundamental right must be respected.

Those who are Net-savvy, more than any other category of people, should be aware that it is a given in any democracy that cele­brities lend support to political parties.

Just check out the full list of actors and actresses, athletes, Nobel Prize laureates, etc, who openly endorsed either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney in their race to the White House. These are people whose appeal cut across all divides, yet they were not castigated when they openly stated their choice during the last US presidential election.

But here in Malaysia, when you do that, you risk being labelled as a running dog or traitor, and these are pretty mild terms when compared to other unprintable labels hurled at Barisan supporters. And you don’t even have to be a member of the ruling coalition.

One recent example was when pro-Opposition cyber troopers uploaded a photograph of a woman and accompanied it with harsh and vulgar comments.

The woman, a committee member of the Malaysian Youth Rights Movement, was also threatened with gang rape and murder over her stand on some issues.

We appear to be heading towards a fascist state, in cyberspace at least, when groups who do not share your political ideals will shout you down and punish you.

Incredibly, these cyber bullies have all along been telling us that they are fighting for freedom of expression and democracy, which they strongly feel are ideals missing from this country. Yet, they have become more monstrous than those who they claim are shackling our democratic liberties.

Blame it on the silly season or the heat of the elections but surely we as Malaysians must be able to conduct ourselves in a moderate manner instead of fanatically shouting down anyone who has a different viewpoint.

I am not spared either. I have received numerous e-mail ordering me to “repent” because I am seen to be inclined to the Barisan, which to these psychologically disturbed people is a sin to the church and congregation, thus the need to seek “forgiveness”.

It does not help when some pastors use the pulpit to deliver sermons and prayers which are skewed towards a certain party. What is worse, in some cases, are those pastors who parrot allegations picked up at ceramah and the social media without verifying the facts first.

Granted that we are all interested in the general election and all the issues that have been raised. This is a healthy development in a changing political landscape, but we need to remind ourselves that everyone is entitled to his or her choice.

There seems to be a “stereotype” mentality that if you fall within certain categories – race, religion, occupation, place of residence – your political affiliation is already confirmed.

And so we are inundated with similar e-mail each morning from friends and strangers who simply forward the mail without a thought to our real political leanings.

The social media has allowed many of us to connect through forums that bring together people who go to the same schools or universities, and come from similar professions and who share the same hobbies. Yet, even in these seemingly innocent forums, throw in a bit of politics, and people start to fight.

And what about those who are attacked simply by association? As one Barisan candidate told a forum at a church, the children and wives become targets even when they are not involved at all in politics.

Why do we place more importance on politicians rather than our friends, colleagues, neighbours or employers?

Long after the dust has settled, when we become ordinary people in an ordinary world, we will learn that most of the newly elected YBs will no longer be free to see to our needs.

The person who is all smiles while seeking your vote will suddenly be too busy to even take an appointment then. But the people you have forsaken in this short but silly season will be the ones who rally around you in your time of need.

I believe we should all be passionate about what we stand for, but let us also at the same time accord the same respect to those who think otherwise. Isn’t that what real democracy is all about, be it at home, the workplace, our place of worship or society at large?

For more election stories, please visit The Star’s GE13 site

The PKR candidate is making his second attempt for the Alor Setar parliamentary seat, but strangely, he and his father have only nice things to say about the incumbent.

ALOR Mengkudu is lined with huge Barisan Nasional and PAS flags. Located on the outskirts of Alor Setar, most of the voters are padi farmers and petty traders, who put religion first.

PKR candidate Gooi Hsiao Leung, who is making his second attempt for the Alor Setar parliamentary seat, has to meet voters at Surau Borham here.

It is unfamiliar ground but Gooi, who is tanned and has grown a goatee, is starting to look like one of the locals. It is only his formal manner of speaking Malay that is telling.

The young lawyer, who practises in Penang, lost to MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung, by a whisker, with just 184 votes separating the two in the 2008 general election.

Chor, the incumbent who has held the seat since 1990, polled 20,741 votes against Gooi’s 20,557. Interestingly enough, there were 1,757 spoilt votes in the close contest.

Today, the constituency has 69,189 registered voters, of which the Malays make up close to 62%, the Chinese 33% and the Indians 4%.

The three state seats under Alor Setar were split up among the DAP (Kota Darul Aman), PAS (Alor Mengkudu) and Barisan Nasional (Bakar Bata), which means the fight cannot be taken for granted.

The battle for Alor Setar is a four-way contest involving Chor, Gooi, Abdul Fisol Mohd of Berjasa and Jawahar Raja Abdul Wahid of Bersama.

Gooi is still regarded as a novice by political analysts but he is no stranger to politics.

His father, Gooi Hock Seng, was a DAP Member of Parliament while his uncle is Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the Gerakan president.

As a child, he was used to seeing the family home being used by DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and other veterans like the late P. Patto, who used to sleep over when they gave talks in Penang.

Despite the intensity of the contest, one thing that has stood out is that it can truly be billed as a gentleman’s fight.

As I arrived here from Kuala Lumpur on a Sunday, it did not strike me that it was a working day, as the streets were rather quiet. Friday is the official weekend in Kedah.

At 9am, when I passed a church, it was nearly empty, while most of the shops had yet to open for business.

Over lunch, the father and son had only nice words to say about Chor – something which emotive Malaysian politicians and campaigners can learn from.

Apart from the political arena, the Goois have previously engaged Chor in the courts, as they are all lawyers.

At the headquarters of the Alor Setar MCA division, it is hive of activity as Chor meets reporters, party workers and voters, who trickle in to seek his assistance over constituency matters. While handling all these, he is multi-tasking, having to take non-stop calls on his mobile phone.

His Bahasa Malaysia, laced with thick northern accent, is near perfect and if one does not look at him, you would think he was a Malay.

“I am a man of the street. I enjoy meeting people at the coffee shops,” Chor said.

This is his strongest point, as his presence is felt in the constituency he has faithfully served for five terms.

Which is why his supporters are quick to point out that Gooi, after losing in the 2008 polls, “had abandoned Alor Setar.”

Gooi has dismissed such talk, saying that he comes to Alor Setar regularly for his court cases and remains the Kedah PKR legal bureau chief.

At the Zam Zam Nasi Lemak restaurant in Jalan Merpati, which sees a multi-racial crowd, I asked a 45-year-old Chinese businessman who he would be voting for.

“I would have voted for Pakatan Rakyat this time but I am sticking to Chor. He is always around the constituency and that matters. I am voting for Chor, not Barisan, okay?” he said.

He is angry with the many problems that has affected Malaysia, saying that his relatives living in other parts of Kedah were supporting PKR and DAP candidates.

But there are also other Chinese voters who have said that their support for PAS in 2008 has been a disaster, citing the closure of the abattoir, the ban on women performers at a Chinese New Year show at a mall, the 50% quota for bumis in housing properties and the sharp decline in investments and state revenue, resulting in the state government having to go on a massive logging exercise.

Said Lim Teik Boon, who works in Kuala Lumpur, when met at another table: “The Chinese in other states who love PAS so much should come and live here, see what it’s like. If you say under PAS, there’s no corruption, it’s simply because there are no businesses.”

At another table, a Malay customer, while sipping his kopi kaw, said he would still back the BN because he believed in the Prime Minister’s transformation plan. He is also not giving his state vote to the DAP either.

The in-fighting within the Kedah DAP is a talking point here. Its chief Lee Guan Aik has been dropped from the race completely. When Pakatan Rakyat announced its candidates at the PAS headquarters in Kota Sarang Semut, Lee and other DAP officials stayed away.

In Alor Mengkudu, incumbent PAS assemblyman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh – who had rebelled against Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak – has been packed off to contest the Jerlun parliamentary seat.

MCA campaigners said they are better prepared this election after scrapping through in 2008.

Datuk Chong Itt Chew, the state MCA chief, said the party has been working on the “black areas” since the last polls and he believes they have recovered the lost votes.

Political analysts still regard Alor Setar as a “grey area” because of the three-figure majority in the 2008 polls.

It remains to be seen if there is a real turnaround as even BN campaigners have admitted that in the urban sections of Alor Setar, the sentiments against the BN remain strong.

For Chor, the burden is heavy, as Alor Setar is among the 15 MCA parliamentary seats that the party expects to retain.

For more election stories, please visit The Star’s GE13 site

There are two clear sections in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency where the approach taken by the candidates can either be appealing or inconsequential.

WARUNG Nasi Ayam Pak Ayub is a well-known stall at the Kampung Kerinchi low-cost flats. It is here that many of the flat dwellers, mostly working-class Malays, come to have their meals, especially at night.

The conversation these days is all about elections. In urban settings, it is generally acknowledged that the voters are more likely to side the Pakatan Rakyat.

But here at these low-cost flats, which are but a short distance from many high-end apartments that have come up over the years, Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin is the hero to the lower income group.

Kampung Kerinchi is the poor section of Lembah Pantai while the urbane, affluent and fashionable is on the other side of the constituency, Bangsar.

Many speak fondly of how the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister has been able to help them buy the low-cost flats at only RM35,000 per unit.

In the past, many had to rent the units from the City Hall but through a rental-ownership scheme, the poor have now become proud owners.

Despatch clerk Mohamed Yusuf made it clear he would vote Barisan Nasional, saying that Raja Nong Chik had cleaned up the flats, tarred the roads, made the lifts work, and has a well-run service centre to help the people.

Puffing on a kretek cigarette, he said it was not easy to survive in Kuala Lumpur with its high cost of living, and he never imagined he could own a flat.

“Raja Nong Chik made it possible, so he is the hero. My friends ask me why I won’t vote Nurul Izzah. Yes, she can speak well but I have never seen her face here once … except her face on the big billboard along the Federal Highway,” he said.

Ironically, Raja Nong Chik, in fact, is ridiculed by his opponent as the “Lembah Pantai MP” for spending his time in this constituency.

PKR supporters claimed that his high-handed supporters had stopped Nurul Izzah, the incumbent MP, from entering the flats.

“There is no level playing field here. The flats are filled with BN flags because many of us cannot even get past the gates,” said a worker.

There are 72,533 voters in Lembah Pantai with the Malays in the majority at 55.3%. The Chinese (22.8%), Indians (20%) and others make up the rest.

This is one constituency that has shown a sharp increase of voters – in the 2008 polls, the number of voters was 56,650, and Nurul Izzah won with a 2,895-vote majority, beating Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

In an interview with Malaysian Insider, political analyst Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said bread-and-butter issues were more important to the working class than “hot air” issues like human rights, freedom and democracy that only appealed to middle-class and affluent Bangsar voters.

“It is the working and lower middle-class of Lembah Pantai who shall deliver him the seat,” Dr Shamsul Amri told the portal.

“In the last five years, Nurul Izzah has been a fantastic good listener, but can’t give or deliver anything. Raja Nong Chik wasn’t the MP, but minister; he doesn’t need to make any promise, just deliver. He has delivered,” added the founding director of Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

It will be in this part of town, where the bulk of the votes reside, that the outcome of this hotly-contested constituency will be decided. Raja Nong Chik is now seen as a serious challenger and many think that an upset could take place here.

It will be a tough fight and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been making regular appearances at ceramah to help his eldest daughter shore up support.

But over at the upmarket eateries and pubs in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, it is a different story altogether with BN-bashing being the order of the day.

Paul Michael, who lives in the vicinity, said he does not even need to ponder who he shall vote for come May 5.

He said his mind had been made up long ago, and that he just wanted to see the present government changed.

“Nurul Izzah is pleasant, clever and articulate. It helps that she looks good, so my choice is clear,” he said, over a mug of cold beer.

His friends, all professionals including lawyers and accountants, said they were eager to punish BN for what they termed as all the wrongs in this country.

Asked if he was bothered by PAS pushing for hudud law, Michael said he did not care as he was staying in Kuala Lumpur.

“I don’t care what PAS wants to do in Kelantan but over here in KL, I am just going to party and have my beer here,” the 35-year-old bachelor said.

His concerns are issues like corruption, human rights, democracy, justice and freedom, which he is passionate about.

His businessman friend, however, was more guarded, saying he was worried about the outcome of the polls.

“Look, I am a businessman. I need the economy to be smooth, I don’t want to see people out in the streets after polling day because some people are not happy with the results.

“If this happens, my cash flow will be hit and I will need to use my savings to pay for the wages and bills,” he said.

But his friends think it is a small price to pay for change.

Lembah Pantai is a valley divided, just like the nation, as we begin the countdown to the big day. The fight is close and intense, and this is best illustrated at Kampung Kerinchi where the operations centres of both sides are just next to each other.

For more election stories, please visit The Star’s GE13 site

Will the folk in this university town vote for ‘change’ despite the fact that MCA has brought tangible benefits to their lives in the form of the Utar main campus? It’s a choice between good work by Barisan and Pakatan’s promises.

JUST 17km away from Kampar is Tanjung Tualang, a small town, which has made a name for itself as a freshwater prawn centre.

Almost everyone knows each other in this tiny place, which boasts of having 15 seafood restaurants and plenty of hair salons.

“There aren’t that many places to spend our money unless we travel to Ipoh, so we just spend our time eating and getting our hair washed and blow dried,’’ a 55-year-old prawn breeder replied when asked.

Tanjung Tualang was originally one of the major tin-mining towns in the early 1900s. It derived its name either from the Tualang tree or the Toh Allang Chinese Tin Ltd company, depending on who you talk to. The world’s biggest tin dredging machine used to be located here.

The heyday of the tin mining industry may be over but the people have risen to the challenge by converting the mining ponds to breed freshwater prawns. Others who have been given land have moved on to become smallholders, planting rubber and oil palm.

On weekends, many tourists travel to the restaurants here, and the owners take much pride in adorning the walls with pictures of Hong Kong and local celebrities who had eaten at their outlets.

Tanjung Tualang is located under the Kampar parliamentary constituency of Datuk Lee Chee Leong, who has set a record of sorts – of the 15 parliamentary state seats won by the MCA in the 2008 general election, Kampar had the largest number of Chinese voters.

The mild-mannered Deputy Home Minister is defending his seat against DAP’s Dr Ko Chung Sen, a heart surgeon who is making his debut in politics.

The constituency has 63,776 voters of which 60% are Chinese with 29% Malays and 10% Indians. In the 2008 polls, Lee won the seat with a 2,697-vote majority.

The strong anti-establishment sentiments against the Barisan Nasional from 2008 still linger, but BN campaigners are confident.

A biscuit seller at the Kampar market, for example, said he was voting for the DAP as he “wanted to teach Umno a lesson” although he acknowledged the good work done by the MCA on the ground.

The main campus of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) and the branch campus of Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman are located here and along with the vibrant student population comes plenty of financial spillover effects and business opportunities to the people of Kampar.

Thousands of people, including those from outside Kampar, have gained from the businesses they have set up around the campus, ranging from the eateries to rental income from their homes let out to these students.

It is well known that many Utar graduates have stayed back to set up their own businesses next to their alma mater.

Kampar has turned into a fashionable and attractive campus town with its picturesque lakes, and some have commented that it is even more attractive than Oxford and Boston, two well-known university towns.

Lee is aware that the physical and financial benefits brought in by the MCA have put him in an easier position for this election.

Said a food seller near the campus, who had earlier attended to the students: “Most of my friends are voting for DAP, but I tell them that I am better off now because of MCA. They tell me that MCA has done nothing but I tell them that they must be blind.

“It will prick my conscience if I vote for DAP when I am benefitting from what MCA has done and I vote otherwise.”

Her helper at the chap fun (economy rice) stall admits she’s torn between the MCA and the call for change.

“Kampar has changed from a sleepy town into a thriving place because of the campus. My family members now no longer have to find jobs in KL,” she said.

However, national issues could affect the voting pattern of the people of Kampar, who have voted in DAP candidates previously.

Dr Ko has told the media that his main campaign topic would be corruption, which he said has affected the nation.

Corruption, the 45-year-old said, had affected Malaysia “from top down, sideways” and that he wanted to get rid of this problem before it reached “advance terminal stage”.

The Kuala Lumpur-born doctor has been residing in Ipoh since 2004 and works at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital. His colleague, Dr Sharifah Halimah, even turned up at his press conference to give him support.

Interestingly, Lee’s wife is also a medical doctor and would be helping out in the campaign.

The Barisan campaigners have pointed out that Dr Ko is an outsider but in interviews, Dr Ko has rebutted this claim by saying Kampar is not that far from Ipoh.

Furthermore, he said, many of his patients are from Kampar.

As we now enter the final leg of the campaign, there is no doubt that Kampar will be one of the most watched constituencies as the Barisan and PR battle it out to win the hearts and minds – and the votes – of the people.

GE13 will see the largest number of Independents ever in the history of Malaysian elections, and the fact is that these are not real Independents but disgruntled members from both sides.

ASK any politician why they are in politics and they will tell you it is because of their undying wish to serve the people. They would also say, with a straight face, that they are fully dedicated to their party and their fellow party members.

If you were to believe them – and there are many people who would swallow everything they say as gospel truth – it is truly their wish to build this nation and to bring a better future for the people and country.

It is not about themselves, it is not about positions, and it is not about rewards, so they will say bravely at the ceramah.

Yet, amazingly, when they are not picked as candidates by their respective parties, they turn into spoilt brats.

Last week, supporters of Gelang Patah MCA chief Jason Teoh protested after he was replaced by Datuk Ghani Othman as the Barisan Nasional candidate against DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang. The operations centre was shut down as Teoh went off sulking.

With due respect, he may have worked hard in the constituency but, as a minnow, voters wouldn’t even give him a second thought if they had to choose between him and Lim.

But in the case of Ghani, at least voters who would otherwise vote for Lim would have to ponder a while about the effects of their decision.

Looking at the larger picture, by pitting Ghani against Lim – a move which the latter certainly did not expect as he thought he would just walk over Teoh – Barisan has tied Lim down in Gelang Patah.

But on Friday, Teoh came to his senses and openly pledged his support for Ghani as well as urged full support for the two Barisan candidates running for the state seats.

Supporters of Wangsa Maju MCA chief Yew Teong Look also staged a protest after they found out that the seat had gone to Umno.

Yew may have been working hard but the reality is that the constituency is a Malay-majority area. The other reality, of course, is that no individual can claim ownership to any seat.

In Penang, former deputy minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar likewise is contesting the Tasik Gelugor parliamentary seat as a Pakatan Rakyat-friendly candidate. He has been given the sack by Umno.

The veteran Umno leader doesn’t seem to remember that he has had his opportunities, having served as a deputy chief minister in Penang and federal deputy minister. At one time, he was said to have aspired to become the Governor of Penang.

One wonders what he still hopes to gain at 66 years old when he should stay by the sidelines and lend support to the party.

On the Pakatan Rakyat side, Tapah PKR chief Ridzuan Bani has entered the race as an independent candidate. He said his supporters and party members – not him – were unhappy with the leadership’s chosen candidate, K. Vasantha Kumar.

Malacca DAP veteran and incumbent Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him has also been sacked after he decided to contest the Kota Laksamana state seat as an Independent. He is defending the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat as a DAP candidate.

In Selangor, incumbent Teratai DAP assemblyman Jenice Lee was expelled after she decided to defend her seat as an Independent after being dropped from the party list.

But the biggest surprise of the day has to be the decision of Wanita Umno deputy chief Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim’s move to contest as an Independent in the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat. This follows Barisan’s decision not to field her in a seat of her choice and instead offered her the state seat of Bukit Chandan.

There was more confusion – PKR and PAS are fighting each other in the Labuan parliamentary seat and the Sungai Acheh state seat in Penang. One wonders how these respective candidates were able to get the letters of endorsement to enable them to represent their parties. This will only benefit the Barisan candidates in these two areas.

When nominations closed yesterday, there were 79 Independents contesting parliamentary seats and 191 contesting state seats. This is surely the largest number of Independents ever in the history of Malaysian elections, and the fact is that these are not real Independents but disgruntled members from both sides.

Although the attention is focused on Barisan and Pakatan, one should not underestimate the presence of these Independents, especially in a close fight.

They could split the votes of the respective parties, especially if they have worked in the constituencies in the past few years.

We may call these Independents spoilers, but they certainly will add to the excitement of this closely fought general election.

THE Ah Tee Koay Teow Kia Restaurant in Taman Bintang Jaya, Labis, serves good flat noodles with braised innards, meat and bean curd. It is also a favourite gathering place for election campaigners.

Labis MP Chua Tee Yong walks into the restaurant and shakes hands with the customers. He is a recognised face and does not even need to tell them to vote for Barisan Nasional.

The boyish-looking politician is warmly greeted at every table except one – two young couples having their meals appear reluctant to return his greetings.

They could well be locals currently working outside Labis as they left in a car bearing number plates from the Federal Territory.

But the MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief sportingly shrugs it off, saying by now he can easily detect who would vote for him and who would not – as well as who were the fence-sitters.

The restaurant is located not far from the three-storey Labis MCA headquarters where Chua maintains a well-run service centre.

Labis is a parliamentary constituency where the majority of the voters have benefited from palm oil and rubber. It is the second largest town in the district of Segamat and is said to have received its name from the British who found many river terrapins in the area.

Many are smallholders, including the Chinese and Indians, who own their land – thanks to the distribution of land by the Johor state government.

At least 60% of the constituents are involved in commodities and their market prices would have a bearing at the voting centres.

“Look at my helpers for the elections, they are all very young. They are school-leavers and college kids,” Chua said, as if to remind this writer that not all the young would be supporting Pakatan Rakyat.

After all, cyber troopers and supporters are campaigning hard via Facebook and other social media platforms. Those who dare support Barisan have found themselves shouted down and in one case, threatened with rape and murder.

For sure, Chua’s campaigners appear spirited and eager, saying they personally called up every voter in the constituency.

In my brief visit and talk with some smallholders, one unexpected name kept cropping up. I would never have imagined that independent Australian senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon would be so well-known here.

Barisan has done a good job in reminding Labis voters that Xenophon – who has openly campaigned for Pakatan – is not a friend of Malaysian palm oil.

He advocated a Bill which would make labelling of palm oil content in food mandatory while the same is not demanded of other vegetable oils.

If the Bill had succeeded in becoming law, it would have adversely affected Malaysia as the world’s largest producer after Indo­nesia.

In short, the smallholders, who are pretty well-informed, see Xeno­­phon as someone who wants to da­­­mage Malaysia’s palm oil industry.

A 56-year-old palm oil cultivator, who spends a lot of his time at a coffeeshop, was angry with the Australian politician.

“Look around you. This is a peaceful constituency. Why is the opposition working with this man?” he asked, admitting to being a longtime Barisan supporter.

Another planter said he used his savings to “see the world” and that he considered himself “pretty well off” because of the palm oil earnings.

“When I retire, my children will take over the business. It’s hard work but they can hire foreigners. My only worry is paying foreigners minimum wages. It’s nonsensical.”

But it is not all smooth sailing for Chua. At the centre of Labis are rows of Chinese new village houses.

Many put up DAP flags in their compounds and in fact, their anti-establishment sentiments have been around even before the 2008 general election.

I saw a Chinese man – known to the small town as a contractor – driving around with a huge PAS flag. And at one car service shop, there were two vehicles plastered with DAP posters. One motorist even had a replica of a rocket on his car.

A local resident, who only wanted to be known as Ah Chye, said he would vote for DAP because he wanted a change in the government.

“I don’t care whether it is PAS or DAP or PKR. I will vote the opposition,” he said, admitting he came from the new village.

He said he was excited by the news of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang coming to Johor to contest the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat and hopes to see the “tsunami sweep through Johor.”

It is this sentiment, not just in Labis, but other Chinese-majority areas, that has put Barisan campaigners in a spot.

Said a Labis Umno official: “I find it hard to understand the Chinese. PAS has openly said it wants to impose its style of PAS hudud.

“Even the Malays are wary but some Chinese are openly welcoming PAS and flying their flags.”

In 2008, Chua – who succeeded his father Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in the constituency – was the youngest Barisan candidate. He polled 13,658 votes against DAP’s Teo Eng Ching (9,564) to win by a majority of 4,094.

Labis looks like a win for Barisan but no one is taking anything lightly. Chua was earlier expected to face DAP’s ex-senator S. Ramakrishnan but it has not been confirmed.

Chua is now 39 years old and he has certainly grown up not only physically but also politically. When I walked into the Labis MCA building in 2008, Chua Senior was at the operations centre but this time, Chua Junior shows he is the man in command.

For more election stories, please visit The Star’s GE13 site

The real fight in Gelang Patah has not started but with an expected gigantic clash on the cards, life will never be the same again in this constituency.

IT’S 10.30pm on a Friday night at Jalan Penyiaran 46 in Taman Universiti, Skudai, about 5km from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia campus, and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang is holding court.

Unlike the usually predominantly Chinese areas he is more comfortable with, he has chosen this racially-mixed 30-year-old housing estate to campaign.

The owner of a kindergarten, the Taska Pasti Siswa Satu, has allowed its corner-lot premises to be used for the ceramah.

The front wall at the entrance of the kindergarten, presumably run by a PAS supporter, declares the premises to be a zon tutup aurat (Islamic dress code zone).

Years ago, no one would have imagined Lim speaking at a PAS-sponsored ceramah, let alone in the company of party leaders in serbans and flowing robes.

Still, the 300-plus crowd was overwhelmingly Chinese, with a handful of Malays while one could count the number of Indians in one hand.

The residents comprise mostly Malay families staying in single-storey houses and some of them declared their political allegiance by putting up Barisan Nasional flags and banners along the roads but Pakatan Rakyat is unfazed.

Even at 72, Lim has plenty of fire in his belly. His speeches are fiery and punchy, as was clearly demonstrated that Friday night.

Kicking off his speech, he led the crowd, in Mandarin, chanting continuously “that on May 5, the government will be changed”.

Then, he rapidly fired his ammunition against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for allegedly portraying him as a Chinese chauvinist who played a role in the May 13 racial clashes.

He drew his firepower from the yet-to-be publicly released movie Tanda Putera and Bahasa Malaysia newspaper Utusan Malaysia. He kept his admirers cheering with his trademark oratory, switching easily from Mandarin to Bahasa Malaysia.

Obviously, the continuous bombardment by Johor Umno that the DAP should not be allowed to enter the state, a fortress of Umno, has put the Rocket in a fighting mode, especially among the Malays. Others say it is in defensive mode.

While DAP has been able to gather massive Chinese crowds in Johor, Lim is still struggling to find Malay listeners. Even at Jalan Penyiaran, under the Gelang Patah constituency, the ones holding PAS flags were young Chinese listeners, who are presumably DAP loyalists first.

Some willingly gave donations when PAS activists passed plastic bags around while others curiously looked at the party paraphernalia on sale outside the kindergarten including stickers with a Manchester United emblem that has been changed to Muslimin United.

Just before Lim spoke, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub brought up the same issue, declaring that Lim was not a racist but a national patriot.

“This is not about winning elections and getting positions and allowances but about changing the government,” the Kubang Kerian MP said, adding that if he wanted to keep his job, he would have defended his constituency in Kelantan.

The Johor-born politician said he had vo­­­lunteered to fight in this Johor Umno stronghold at great political risks, as the crowd clapped in approval.

Seeing the largely-Chinese crowd, he assured them that there would be no racial problems after the May 5 polls.

“I am also half Chinese. My mother is Chinese. My friends used to joke that if I failed in politics, I could be an actor in Hong Kong as I am more handsome than Jackie Chan,” he said.

Ironically, Salahuddin is also a beneficiary of MCA as he had studied at Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman.

As he ended his speech, parts of which were in English, a Chinese man, presumably planted by the organisers, stood up to pose a question.

Claiming to be a fence-sitter, he said he was concerned with talks of hudud laws, which was on the PAS agenda, as he had a family. He talked about the strict Islamic laws of having to find four witnesses if his wife or daughter was raped. He wanted to know if criminals would have their hands chopped off.

Salahuddin told him that the Chinese should be concerned with a safe environment to carry out their businesses, citing the “clean governments” of Kelantan, Penang, Kedah and Selangor under Pakatan.

He said it was time for communal-based political parties to go as Malaysians should no longer be divided into Malays, Chinese and Indians.

The Islamist party, he vowed, would protect the Chinese if there were riots, giving an assurance that they should have no fear.

“Let us win Putrajaya first. There are many things to do, we can talk about that (Islamic state) later,” he said, without committing himself or the party to the question.

Another speaker was Dr Boo Cheng Hau, the Johor DAP chief who has been in the news for clashing with his Johor PKR counterpart Datuk Chua Jui Meng. His command of Bahasa Malaysia has improved tremendously but his speech fell flat and he could not command the attention of the crowd like the two veterans.

By the time I left the area, it was near midnight. I had trouble finding my way around to head towards Johor Baru, even with the GPS.

I stopped to ask for directions from two Indian women, who were walking by. A little wary at first to see two men in a car stopping abruptly, they seemed assured after talking to us.

When they asked what we were doing in the area at the time, I said we had just finished listening to a Pakatan Rakyat ceramah. Taking the opportunity, I asked how they would vote in the general election. One said she was not a registered voter while the other said she would vote for Barisan.

I would have wished to listen to her more but there is still time, as I continue to be on the road to listen to the ground.

The real fight in Gelang Patah has not started but with an expected Lim Kit Siang-Datuk Ghani Othman clash on the cards, life will never be the same again in this constituency.