Wednesday, April 21, 2010
By S. Retnanathan
HULU SELANGOR, April 20 (Bernama) -- After a mundane start, the campaign for Sunday's Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election is expected to pick up speed in a day or two.
While hordes of supporters from both sides of the political divide have set up bases in this vast constituency, which is the size of Melaka, locals have yet to feel the "heat" of the by-election.
"The only sign that a by-election is going on is the posters. Posters and banners are everywhere, minus the crowd or even campaign workers. We can see booths of political parties but most of the time they are not manned," a local businessman, Saiful Amiruddin, 47, told Bernama when met at Bukit Sentosa, here.
While the campaign on the ground is moving at a snail's pace, both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), are expected to accelerate their campaign in a day or two.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to visit the constituency of about 64,500 voters on Wednesday night to give the much-needed shot in the arm for the ruling coalition's election workers.
He will visit all three major election centres in Hulu Selangor -- Hulu Bernam, Batang Kali and Kuala Kubu Baharu -- to whip up the spirit of BN election workers and at the same time show voters that their ballot for the ruling coalition is vital.
The Hulu Selangor by-election will see a straight fight between BN's P. Kamalanathan and PKR's Zaid Ibrahim. Two independents, who filed their nomination papers on Saturday, pulled out of the race yesterday.
Observers here said the sheer size of the constituency made it hard for political parties to cover it fully and this was the reason why the "heat" of the polls had not been felt yet.
"Hulu Selangor is very big. It borders Perak on the north and Pahang on the east. This is the reason why you do not see feverish campaign like in previous by-elections.
"Another factor, is that election machineries from both sides normally take time to warm up and to get to know the terrain here. Once they get to know the local party members, then can go full steam... it takes two or three days," said a political observer, who declined to be named.
A random survey by Bernama at ceramah by both sides also reveal lukewarm attendance but the crowd is expected to swell on the last lap of campaigning starting Thursday.
"These ceramah are only well attended if there are prominent leaders present. On the BN's side, when the Deputy Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) is present. On the opposition side, when (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim is around. They are the crowd pullers.
"Otherwise it is just the normal crowd. But crowd attendance at ceramah cannot be used to gauge support because some people might just turn up out of curiosity," said an MIC central working committee member, who is campaigning on the ground.
Agreeing that the pace of campaigning would pick up pace in a day or two, he said much of the campaigning by both sides was focused on door-to-door campaigning rather than mass canvassing.
"We find visiting voters at their homes is more appealing to them. We get to know them personally. The voters too feel happy that we are visiting their them at home," he added.
Another method used by the ruling coalition in an effort to mix with the locals is to change from their formal attire to sports clothing and joining the local youth in games like volleyball or football.
Over the last two days Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, MIC Youth chief T. Mohan and rest of the BN youth have been joining locals in games.
"Off course, that is good. Winning over the youth in what they like doing. When they get leaders like Khairy playing volleyball or football with them, they get to know the leader better and get closer to them. It is a good strategy," said an observer.
While the heat over the last two days was unbearable, the rain since last night in this sleepy hollow has somewhat cooled things down.
Although the rain has provided some respite to elections workers, it could also play spoiler as rain could hinder movement especially when it comes to door-to-door campaigning and ceramah.
-- BERNAMA
HULU SELANGOR, April 20 (Bernama) -- After a mundane start, the campaign for Sunday's Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election is expected to pick up speed in a day or two.
While hordes of supporters from both sides of the political divide have set up bases in this vast constituency, which is the size of Melaka, locals have yet to feel the "heat" of the by-election.
"The only sign that a by-election is going on is the posters. Posters and banners are everywhere, minus the crowd or even campaign workers. We can see booths of political parties but most of the time they are not manned," a local businessman, Saiful Amiruddin, 47, told Bernama when met at Bukit Sentosa, here.
While the campaign on the ground is moving at a snail's pace, both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), are expected to accelerate their campaign in a day or two.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to visit the constituency of about 64,500 voters on Wednesday night to give the much-needed shot in the arm for the ruling coalition's election workers.
He will visit all three major election centres in Hulu Selangor -- Hulu Bernam, Batang Kali and Kuala Kubu Baharu -- to whip up the spirit of BN election workers and at the same time show voters that their ballot for the ruling coalition is vital.
The Hulu Selangor by-election will see a straight fight between BN's P. Kamalanathan and PKR's Zaid Ibrahim. Two independents, who filed their nomination papers on Saturday, pulled out of the race yesterday.
Observers here said the sheer size of the constituency made it hard for political parties to cover it fully and this was the reason why the "heat" of the polls had not been felt yet.
"Hulu Selangor is very big. It borders Perak on the north and Pahang on the east. This is the reason why you do not see feverish campaign like in previous by-elections.
"Another factor, is that election machineries from both sides normally take time to warm up and to get to know the terrain here. Once they get to know the local party members, then can go full steam... it takes two or three days," said a political observer, who declined to be named.
A random survey by Bernama at ceramah by both sides also reveal lukewarm attendance but the crowd is expected to swell on the last lap of campaigning starting Thursday.
"These ceramah are only well attended if there are prominent leaders present. On the BN's side, when the Deputy Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) is present. On the opposition side, when (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim is around. They are the crowd pullers.
"Otherwise it is just the normal crowd. But crowd attendance at ceramah cannot be used to gauge support because some people might just turn up out of curiosity," said an MIC central working committee member, who is campaigning on the ground.
Agreeing that the pace of campaigning would pick up pace in a day or two, he said much of the campaigning by both sides was focused on door-to-door campaigning rather than mass canvassing.
"We find visiting voters at their homes is more appealing to them. We get to know them personally. The voters too feel happy that we are visiting their them at home," he added.
Another method used by the ruling coalition in an effort to mix with the locals is to change from their formal attire to sports clothing and joining the local youth in games like volleyball or football.
Over the last two days Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, MIC Youth chief T. Mohan and rest of the BN youth have been joining locals in games.
"Off course, that is good. Winning over the youth in what they like doing. When they get leaders like Khairy playing volleyball or football with them, they get to know the leader better and get closer to them. It is a good strategy," said an observer.
While the heat over the last two days was unbearable, the rain since last night in this sleepy hollow has somewhat cooled things down.
Although the rain has provided some respite to elections workers, it could also play spoiler as rain could hinder movement especially when it comes to door-to-door campaigning and ceramah.
-- BERNAMA
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