YAN, Nov 2 — In the rural interiors of Sungai Limau where a political battle is now underway, it is life as usual for local villagers despite the pomp and pageantry typical of any election campaign, and the scores of blue and green flags that now adorn their usually bare streets.
Certainly the village, which comprises a populace made up mostly of farmers and fishermen, has never received as much attention as it has received over the past week, with political heavyweights and notable government figures like Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dropping by for visits and doling out promises of allocations and development.
But despite coming with their armament of pledges to sway voters here, even Barisan Nasional (BN) still believes they are still the “underdog” in the fight for Sungai Limau, a quiet village still mourning the loss of its former assemblyman, the late former Kedah Mentri Besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak.
“It is better to be the underdog here although we still have to keep positive and stay confident against all odds,” the Kedah BN state secretary Datuk Md Rozai Shafian said when met recently.
BN’s campaigning has so far been aggressive even though the pact’s leaders have continued to claim they are the underdogs, perhaps as a means to remain humble and sincere in a place where voters are more inclined to vote based on loyalty.
Sungai Limau has been a PAS stronghold ever since Azizan capured the seat 1995 with a majority of slightly over 500 votes. He held on to the seat since then, with subsequent higher majorities until it was vacated when he passed away on September 26 this year.
“We have been organising more than 15 ceramah daily and various functions that even the kampung people here are complaining that they can’t attend all these functions as it is tiring,” Md Rozai added.
Campaigning in Sungai Limau is nearing the last leg with only a few days left before polling on November 4 but unlike other by-elections, there appears to be little or no actual sense of urgency due to the slow and laid back pace of daily kampung life.
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n fact, campaign workers and party members from both camps are often seen mingling and having tea together, just like it was any other day, despite their different political affiliations.
BN’s candidate Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim noted that some BN and PAS by-election operations centres are sited side by side but unlike the general elections or other by-elections where a sense of enmity exists between both sides, here, the two political rivals share camaraderie.
“This is exactly what I want to emphasise in my campaign - a matured harmonious political campaign - we do everything in a matured and harmonious manner where we can sit together and exchange ideas for the good of the people while respecting the voters’ right to choose,” he said when met at his house at Kampung Titi Teras here.
Appearing relaxed, the Sultan Idris University of Education lecturer also said he is the underdog here as Sungai Limau has been a PAS stronghold since 1995.
Voters here, he said, tend to base their political choices based on their loyalties, which currently lies with Islamist party PAS.
“It can’t be denied that Azizan had contributed a lot to the people here and voters here all respected him but I hope they will think of their future when voting this time around instead of reminiscing on the past because we want to bring development here,” the 52-year-old said.
The former Kedah Menteri Besar has remained a leader much loved by the locals.
Even BN operations centres all over the village have hung banners in remembrance of the late former mentri besar.
Dr Ahmad Sohaimi said there are a lot that needs to be done in Sungai Limau such as improving the infrastructure and attending to social issues like lack of jobs or even something as trivial as youths demanding for a futsal centre.
“I think the promised allocations for schools will not sway them much but what the voters here want is for us to listen to them, to hear out their issues and to solve them,” he added.
Just Wednesday, Muhyiddin approved allocations of RM2.25 million for three Chinese schools in the constituency after he was presented with petition by MCA requesting for the allocations.
Dr Ahmad Sohaimi is going up against Jerai Pas Youth Chief Mohd Azam Samat to win over a Malay-majority constituency of over 27,000 voters.
On the other side, PAS is in its element and brimming with confidence that it will successfully retain the seat.
PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said their early readings of the voters sentiments showed that many voters will continue to support PAS.
“Our minimum majority to retain this seat will be no less than the over 500 vote-majority that the late Azizan garnered the first time he won this seat back in 1995,” he told a press conference earlier today.
Of course PAS is aiming for a much higher majority but Mahfuz is not revealing any other figures as he said it is a “secret”.
On the allocations and what is termed as “vote-buying” efforts by BN in the last week, Mahfuz scoffed at any perceived benefit it could contribute towards BN’s campaign.
“They promise everything during by-election but the question is will they fulfil their obligations after this?” he asked.
He also pointed out that Sungai Limau voters, including the 2,000-odd Chinese voters, would not be easily swayed by promises and allocations such as the RM2.25million allocation for three Chinese schools.
“It is also not fair, now there’s a by-election, they allocated funds to Chinese schools but what about other schools? What about the public religious schools (sekolah agama rakyat)?” he asked.
Anak Bukit state assemblyman and Kedah Opposition leader Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah claimed the previous PAS state government, when it was in control of Kedah between 2008 and 2013, had annual allocations of RM50,000 which was later increased to RM70,000 to private Chinese schools in the state but the current BN administration did not continue with it anymore.
“If they are sincere to help Chinese schools, then why didn’t they continue with the annual allocations?” he asked.
He urged voters not to fall for the promises made now but to continue supporting PAS as they will ensure everyone’s welfare is well taken care of.
“Don’t vote for a racist regime that has vocally blamed the ethnic Chinese voters after the dismal showing in the May 5 general elections,” he said.
Sungai Limau voters will cast their votes on November 4.
