TELUK INTAN, May 29 — Datuk Mah Siew Keong arrived at Se Chuan Restaurant just after 9pm last night dressed in his white Barisan Nasional (BN) uniform, and the Teluk Intan by-election hopeful waved reluctantly as the emcee announced his arrival.
When he took the microphone to address dozens of Gerakan supporters, he apologised for having to cut his meet short as a mark of respect to the late Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah who died yesterday afternoon.
“I will not be giving a political speech tonight since we need to respect the Malay customs,” Mah told his supporters before thanking them, and returning the microphone to the emcee.
The same message was also carried by several pamphlets scattered across some tables in the restaurant, informing supporters that the dinner would not be as festive.
Gerakan deputy speaker Syed Abd Razak Alsagoff took his turn afterwards, explaining that he too was originally scheduled to speak at two events yesterday before they were cancelled.
As Mah headed towards the door, a group of press asked Mah if they could take a group photo with him.
“Make it a quick one, I still have another event with 150 people, and I am already late,” said Mah smiling, as he obliged the request.
Last night was the first time, after nearly two weeks, that reporters and photographers could take a break from covering political rallies from both BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR), a regular fixture every night.
It was a similar scene at a DAP fundraiser dinner at New Pao Long Restaurant with its candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, which went on without media coverage after a originally planned rally was cancelled.
The town of Teluk Intan, usually in the spotlight because of the by-election this weekend, seemed quieter as the public goes about their lives on a public holiday, despite the flag being hoisted at half-mast.
This comes as both sides of the political divide halted their campaign starting yesterday afternoon until today, with both candidates heading to the royal town of Kuala Kangsar this morning to pay respects to the sultan.
State Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir announced the death in a live broadcast on national television yesterday.
The sultan turned 86 last month.
Despite that, campaigning still went on, albeit at a much smaller scale as both sides did not want to lose their momentum at the most crucial time of the stump.
Woo, 48, a Gerakan party worker at its Jalan Pasar operation centre, told The Malay Mail Online that they still went on a knocking on doors this morning to gauge public support for Mah.
The centre, however, was almost empty, with the usual 20-plus workers down to just him and three others who were checking the electoral roll. Woo and his colleagues had no idea when the campaign will resume proper.
“Right now we know nothing,” he said, saying that any decision will only be made at a party meeting later in the evening.
“All our original plans were spoiled,” added Woo, gesturing to tents in front of the Teluk Intan Chinese Residents’ Recreational Club which have just been disassembled, accompanied by neatly stacked chairs.
They were supposed to hold a dinner and a rally with Mah, hosting up to 300 voters last night before the call to stop all activities came.
“If we didn’t stop it, surely someone from Pakatan will take our photos or videos and claim we were being disrespectful,” he explained.
Similarly, MCA and DAP main operation centres in the Bandar Baru here were also deserted in the morning, with only several party workers cleaning up.
Campaigning is expected to resume tonight, with two rallies and a book launch planned by PR.
It is understood that BN will also proceed with its mega rally in front of the iconic Teluk Intan Leaning Tower tonight, where Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to turn up together with a number of ministers from the ruling coalition.
Tomorrow will be last day for campaigning before Mah, 53, goes against Dyana, 26, in a straight fight on May 31.
