Straight fight in heated Tenang campaign

By Adib Zalkapli

PAS candidate Normala Sudirman and Umno’s Azahar Ibrahim will go head to head in the Tenang by-election today. - Picture by Choo Choy May

LABIS, Jan 22 — The Tenang by-election campaign begins today with the Barisan Nasional (BN) focusing on Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) choice of a PAS candidate and the Islamic state bogey in a straight fight where the outcome could decide the date of the next national polls.

The Malaysian Insider understands that MCA is harping on Labis PAS Muslimat chief Normala Sudirman’s reluctance to greet non-Muslim voters.

Returning officer Md Asri Amir announced at 11.20 that it will be a straight fight between Normala and Umno’s Azahar Ibrahim in the January 30 by-election after the objection period ended at 11am. Only both candidates filed their nomination papers in the first by-election in Johor since Election 2008.

BN is said to be seeking victory with a majority of at least 5,000 votes before it will call for a snap polls.

“We have won with a majority of more than 5,000 before. So that is the KPI for our members who work in the constituency,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who heads the BN election campaign in Tenang.

The late Datuk Sulaiman Taha retained the Tenang state seat in the last general election after he defeated PAS’s Mohd Saim Siran by a majority of 2,492 votes. In Election 2004, he won the seat by 8,649 votes.

Meanwhile Normala was still hoping for an unexpected outcome on January 30.

“I believe Tenang voters will spring a surprise for the sake their children, I am confident that the voters will vote for change,” said Normala after she was confirmed as PAS candidate.

While BN focuses on Normala and the prospect of an Islamic state if PAS comes to power, the PR campaign will bank on dissatisfaction among Felda settlers who have yet to receive the returns from high commodity prices. There are some 3,800 voters in the three Felda schemes in the constituency.

The Tenang by-election was called following the death of Sulaiman on December 17.

The seat is situated within the Labis Parliamentary constituency, a stronghold of MCA president Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek and currently represented by his son Chua Tee Yong.

Another Labis state seat, Bekok, was also won BN’s Tan Kok Hong by a majority of 1,944 votes.

BN currently controls 50 of the state assembly seats, while DAP, four and PAS, two.

Thousands of rival supporters have turned up to throw their support for the respective candidates. There was some tension but police put up barbed wires and personnel to separate the two groups.

Top leaders from both coalitions led processions to the Labis Municipal Council office where the nomination centre has been set up.

MI & MK