2 theSun | MONDAY JANUARY 12 2009

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Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election

‘By-election not gauge

of support for MCA’
Candidate factor in
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KLANG: The Kuala Tereng-

ganu by-election on Saturday
cannot be used to gauge
whether Chinese support is
once again behind the MCA,
party president Datuk Seri Ong
Tee Keat said yesterday.
Ong disagreed that the
by-election would be used by
the party to gauge the com-
munity’s response after the
March 8 general election and
party election last year as “each
and every state has its own
set of priorities and areas of
concern”.
“In the case of Kuala
Terengganu (by-election), the
Chinese constitute only about
11% of voters. We can only
say that the outcome would
reflect the aspirations of the
local electorate. But for com-
mon and national issues, we
must take cognisance of the
views and aspirations of the
community as a whole, which
we have been doing, even in
the run-up to the by-election.
“Until today, we are still
On another matter, Ong,
who is transport minister, ad-
vised motorcyclists and pillion
riders to replace helmets which
they have used for more than
five years.
fence-sitter votes
KUALA TERENGGANU: With
According to studies con- the Kuala Terengganu by-elec-
ducted by the Malaysian Insti- tion only five days away, the
Ong three candidates are going all
tute of Road Safety Research,
launches out to attract the support of fence-
he said, helmets more than five
a Klang sitters who form more than 20%
years old may not be safe for
MCA Youth of the 80,229 electorate.
use as the quality of materials
motivational Gayah, in her 40s, is one of
used to make them may have
seminar this group whose votes could
deteriorated.
yesterday. well decide the winner on Jan 17.
She was among the people who
turned up in droves to catch a
glimpse of Deputy Prime Minis-
ter Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak
as he left after Friday prayers at
Kampung Gong Tok Nasek.
Asked which way her vote
would go, the mother of five
replied: “Let us wait and see.”
Gayah said ordinary villagers
like herself were happy to see
political leaders visit the area.
“It is nice to see a friendly face
like Datuk Najib’s,” she said.
“Fence-sitters usually give
sympathy votes. They make their
decision in the last minute,” said
Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain,
KAMARIDUAN MOHD NOR/THESUN
community. They will sympa-
thise when people come making
repeated pleas. What is impor-
tant is that they remain humble,”
Ahmad Atory said.
This is because fence-sitters
place priority on the candidate’s
character rather than party and
are more inclined to experiment
with their votes, he said.
“The candidate factor is
important. If they don’t like him,
they will not give a hoot.”
Ahmad Atory’s views were
echoed by a local observer who
said fence-sitters in Terengganu
don’t think of the long-term
effects and are more inclined to
go against the flow.
“If they think many will vote
for candidate A, then they too
will give A their vote. They are
also easily taken in by candi-
dates’ pleas,” the observer, who
declined to be named, said.
“Many have refused to go out
and vote or spoil their votes if
they feel that they will not get
before returning to the BN in
2004 and 2008.
In the 2004 general election,
the late deputy education min-
ister Datuk Razali Ismail (BN)
beat incumbent Dr Syed Azman
Syed Ahmad Nawawi (PAS) with
a 1,933-vote majority.
On March 8 last year, Razali
retained the seat but with a slim
628-vote majority. He polled
32,562 votes, defeating PAS’s
Mohamed Sabu (31,934) and In-
dependent Maimun Yusof (689).
After five days of campaigning,
political observers believe Kuala
Terengganu will once again be
taken by a slim majority.
“It is too close to call. With
the fence-sitters, anything can
happen. It all boils down to the
candidates’ ability and the elec-
tion machinery,” Ahmad Atory
said, adding that the BN has a
slight edge.
“This is because voters,
particularly fence-sitters, may
consider what the late Datuk

monitoring the ground and lecturer in Malaysian Public anything from the candidate. It is Razali had done. They may also
we take it as a good platform and Political Policy at Universiti difficult to say where their votes be attracted and sympathise with
to gauge or solicit that kind Sains Malaysia. will go,” he said, adding that Najib for his untiring campaign-
of feedback on some of the Political observers say parties this was evident in the Kuala ing,” he said.
issues,” he told reporters after and candidates contesting usu- Terengganu seat changing hands The large crowd at Najib’s
launching a Klang MCA Youth ally try to attract fence-sitters by several times since the 1980s. functions is a good sign for BN
motivational seminar. using an approach suited to the The parliamentary seat had but the question is can it be
On the sentiments of the local environment. been held by Barisan Nasional, translated into votes on polling
Terengganu Chinese commu- “The Malays are a feudal and then Semangat 46 and PAS, day. – Bernama
nity, Ong said that based on
the party’s and his own experi-
ence, it would be premature to Chinese voters, during the campaign for Saturday’s
pass judgment before polling Kuala Terengganu by-election, MCA vice-president
or to say who was gaining the
upper hand.
“Most importantly, it would
briefs Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said.
The Penang MCA chief said the Pakatan Rakyat
coalition had a different stand and direction (on the
be how well we harness our issue).
strength and operate our Parliament sitting on Gaza today He said the DAP had earlier voiced its stand against
machinery. Don’t forget that the hudud law proposed by PAS, with its chairman
even at the 11th hour, things KUALA LUMPUR: A special Parliament sitting today is Karpal Singh lashing out at PKR de facto leader Datuk
might change. I will be going expected to adopt Malaysia’s stand on the Israeli inva- Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the matter.
to the constituency for a better sion of the Gaza Strip as well as initiatives to further “But veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, for the past
assessment,” he added. prompt the international community into action over few days, had begun to campaign in Kuala Terengganu,
the Zionist regime’s atrocities against the people of clearly wooing Chinese voters for the PAS candidate,”
Palestine. Liow told reporters after chairing a Penang MCA meet-
In the sitting scheduled to begin at 2.30pm, gov- ing here yesterday. – Bernama
Positioning ernment and opposition members of Parliament will
debate the bloody conflict which has killed at least
We will consider civil staff
universities 850 people.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi requests: Najib
to compete will table a motion which will be seconded by Deputy
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
KUALA TERENGGANU: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
SINTOK: The Association of Mal- Razak said yesterday he would give the most
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the appropriate consideration to the requests of civil
aysian Universities (AMU) has put de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, will also
positioning, student transfer and servants when he becomes prime minister.
speak, with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim The deputy prime minister said the govern-
accumulated credits on its main winding up the debate. – Bernama
agenda to elevate the status of ment was fully committed to meeting any request
local universities internationally. which it can accommodate, as was the case under
Its chairman Tan Sri Dr Nordin Malaysia to propose measures Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Kardi said the move was in line on Palestine at OIC meet and prime ministers before him.
with development and competi- “We are sensitive to the needs of civil servants.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to propose So long as we are able, we will help them. Believe
tion in world education. several measures at the upcoming Organisation
“The three items are inter- me, in the future too, civil servants will be taken
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Information Min- care of by the government,” Najib said at a meet-
connected and will determine isters Meeting aimed at stopping the killing and
the success and vision of ing with federal and Terengganu government staff
maiming of Palestinians in the Israeli invasion of at Wisma Darul Iman here. – Bernama
Malaysian universities,” he said Gaza.
after chairing the association’s Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery
committee meeting at Universiti Cheek, who will lead the Malaysian delegation to Singapore MP injured in attack
Utara Malaysia yesterday. the 8th OIC meeting of information ministers in SINGAPORE: A member of Parliament here was
Nordin, who is also UUM vice- Rabat, Morocco from Jan 25 to 28, said yesterday injured when he was attacked by an unidentified
chancellor, said AMU could use he would attempt to get all OIC member states to assailant who allegedly threw an inflammable liquid
its expertise to act as adviser in agree that the atrocities were nothing less than at him during a community event at Yio Chu Kang
determining university policies. “ethnic cleansing” or genocide. yesterday.
Nordin said the accumulated “What can the Palestinians do when they have Seng Han Thong, 58, was sent to the Singapore
credit transfer and inter-var- been blockaded and deprived of basic necessi- General Hospital after he suffered burns to the face,
sity student transfer systems in ties?” he asked. – Bernama neck and back, local media reports said.
European universities would Another man, said to be the chairman of a temple,
benefit local universities and was also hurt and rushed to hospital.
students. Stop playing wayang kulit, Police have detained a suspect to facilitate inves-
The agenda requires the Liow tells DAP tigations into the attack.
cooperation of all universities, PENANG: The DAP should stop playing wayang kulit Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Seng at the
but should not stop each striving (shadow puppet show) to woo voters, especially hospital. – Bernama
to be among the world’s best, he
added. – Bernama