Today, The Malaysian Insider reported HERE that their strawpoll indicate locals prefer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim over local born neurosurgeon Datuk Dr Halili Rahmat. About 60 per cent of the voters polled yesterday said that they would vote Zaid while 40 per cent said they will back anyone to replace MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad — whose death last month triggered the April 25 by-election.
According to THIS LINK, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said that BN will pick a local candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election to win over the hearts of voters. Such a candidate would be perceived as being able to give the best service to the people of Hulu Selangor if returned in the election because of the intimate knowledge he has of the constituency as it is his place of birth. Conversely, outsiders were sometimes seen as “Touch ‘n Go” candidates and less favored.
Let's have a look at the goodies that have been offered so far. Needless to say, with the backing of the federal government, BN is leading in terms of ringgit and sen. This link said that BN have proposed to spend close to RM60 million on various infrastructure projects including:
- A housing project in Gugusan Kampung Dusun worth RM32 million aimed at ensuring the vote of Felda settlers in the constituency. The settlers are considered the coalition’s vote-bank in the constituency.
- Development projects of three primary national schools, one secondary school and one Chinese school worth a minimum of RM20 million.
- RM16 million worth of miscellaneous “infrastructure projects” Details are unavailable.
- A RM2 million flood mitigation project in Kg Sentosa, Batang Kali
- Repair mosques and public facilities within the constituency at an estimated cost of RM650,000.
- The announcement of a daycare centre, Pusat Permata Negaramade, made by Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor which will cost the federal government RM200,000.
- The provision of a hearse & facilities improvement for the Masjid Kg Sentosa in Batang Kali with an estimated cost of RM100,000.
Here's what Pakatan Rakyat has been doing in Hulu Selangor. It does not have as much financial resources as BN but has the strength of the state government. Here's what they have been dishing out:
- MB Khalid announced that some 100,000 families, who have been occupying state land for more than 15 years, will be eligible for leasehold grants of up to 99 years.
- Farmers working on land with temporary occupation licenses (TOL) would either given long-term rent options or issued grants.
- Land grants have been given to 108 families in Ladang SKC Bernam and RM182,500 allocation for 73 senior citizens under the Mesra Usia Emas scheme.
- The Selangor government is expected to spend at least RM1 million for the Hulu Selangor vote.
- The Selangor government have also temporarily shifted its office there in a move to be closer to the Hulu Selangor grassroots.
Note the huge difference in the amount spent by both coalitions. The amount spent by BN is testimony to the significance of the Hulu Selangor by-election.
In another report HERE, Bernama revealed that MIC is sparing no efforts to regain the seat with hordes of party election workers descending on this sleepy hollow, which has about 64, 500 voters and is as big as the state of Melaka. MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and his deputy and former Hulu Selangor member of parliament Datuk G. Palanivel want to regain the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat because Palanivel held the seat for four terms before his 198-vote loss to Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad in Election 2008. Sources said that the BN candidate would be a toss-up between Palanivel and Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief V. Mugilan.
So who will win? BN or PR? Is the Zaid factor enough for PR to win? I don't think so. Many factors must be taken into account and it is an intricate balance that could tip either way. I would urge those of you in the area to take an active part in the campaigning for whichever party you support.
Ultimately, may the BETTER candidate win and may the voters VOTE WISELY by their head and not by emotions or freebies. If not, they will have to suffer the consequences of casting the vote for the wrong person.
Anak Hulu Selangor Whoever is the PR candidate, we'll support him!
Whoever is the BN candidate, we'll reject him!
Hidup Pakatan!
Lawan tetap lawan!