SG LIMAU Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir's alleged anti-Chinese statement may have caused waves in the media, but the grassroots in Sungai Limau remains largely unmoved.
For the padi farmers, for example, what is of more concern is the low padi price of RM102 per 100kg offered by Bernas, compared to RM147 offered by Thailand.
"We will for vote anyone who can help us sell our padi at Thailand's price," said padi trader Ho Siang Huat, 53, in Dulang Besar.
On whether the Chinese community is affected by media reports on Mukhriz (right), who yesterday, made a turnaround and said he would now support them, Ho said the MB was probably misinformed initially.
"Mukhriz made those statements about the Chinese probably because he was misled by his father, (former premier) Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Mukhriz himself is a good man," Ho said.
Ho, like many of his brethren in the Chinese community, said they had yet to decide whether to vote for BN or PAS come this Nov 4, when Sg Limau folks poll for the new state assemblyperson.
"We are waiting for instructions from our penghulu. We Chinese in Sg Limau are all united. When we are told to vote for a party, we all do. This is how it works here," the father of three, said.
"We now await if Mukhriz has a big announcement for us or not," added Ho (right), who is active in the Suqui movement.
For the padi farmers, for example, what is of more concern is the low padi price of RM102 per 100kg offered by Bernas, compared to RM147 offered by Thailand.
"We will for vote anyone who can help us sell our padi at Thailand's price," said padi trader Ho Siang Huat, 53, in Dulang Besar.On whether the Chinese community is affected by media reports on Mukhriz (right), who yesterday, made a turnaround and said he would now support them, Ho said the MB was probably misinformed initially.
"Mukhriz made those statements about the Chinese probably because he was misled by his father, (former premier) Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Mukhriz himself is a good man," Ho said.
Ho, like many of his brethren in the Chinese community, said they had yet to decide whether to vote for BN or PAS come this Nov 4, when Sg Limau folks poll for the new state assemblyperson.
"We are waiting for instructions from our penghulu. We Chinese in Sg Limau are all united. When we are told to vote for a party, we all do. This is how it works here," the father of three, said.
"We now await if Mukhriz has a big announcement for us or not," added Ho (right), who is active in the Suqui movement.
There are 1,842 Chinese voters in Sg Limau, representing about 6 percent of the electorate. If BN is to score a victory in this PAS stronghold, it will need a sizable swing of Chinese voters.
Sg Limau lost their beloved assemblyperson and former Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak on Sept 26, paving the way for fresh polls on Nov 4, with a 12-day campaign period before it.
BN's Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 52 takes on PAS Mohd Azam, 37, in a straight fight. However their presence pales in comparison to Mukhriz and the memory of Azizan in Sg Limau.
Little change
For other padi farmers like Tan Siew Boon, 90, life is pretty much the same whether BN or PAS wins this election.
"We have been living like this for generations and our situation is not likely to change much," said Tan (right), who has eight children, when met at her modest home, 2km deep in a padi field.
Tan's family rents the seven-acre field for RM600 per season, "but no matter how much we work, it is still not enough".
She said the family has requested for help to repair their home about two years ago, but the response from the state government - under PAS at that time - was not encouraging.
"So we just worked harder on our fields, and with the money we earned, we repaired the house and managed to fix a piped system for water which cost us RM2,000," she said.
"We are not rich. We could not even get three of our sons married off as we are poor and girls these days want men with homes in residential areas, not on padi fields," she lamented, the streaks of fatigue and lines on her sun-worn face, showing.
Still, when asked who she would most likely vote for or what changes she would like to see in Sg Limau, Tan replied "we will wait and see what our Penghulu says".
However, for a furniture shop owner who wants to be known only as Ang (right), will continue to cast his vote for PAS despite the lack of development in the area.
"Many are afraid to say so but not me. I will vote for PAS as Azizan was a wonderful man. He was simple and visited us dressed in a sarong. There were no airs about him," said Ang, when met outside his shop on Sg Limau Dalam.
Ang pointed to a table near his shop where Azizan would sit when he visited. "We don't have the heart to get rid of it as we want to remember him."
On why he continues to vote PAS despite not gaining anything from an opposition assemblyperson, Ang said: "Look at Sg Limau and the padi fields here, what kind of development can you bring here?
"No buildings or factories can be built here. Just let things remain as they are," he said.
Ang is excited about this by-election, though, saying "We wish we can have this every time.
BN's Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 52 takes on PAS Mohd Azam, 37, in a straight fight. However their presence pales in comparison to Mukhriz and the memory of Azizan in Sg Limau.
Little change
For other padi farmers like Tan Siew Boon, 90, life is pretty much the same whether BN or PAS wins this election.
"We have been living like this for generations and our situation is not likely to change much," said Tan (right), who has eight children, when met at her modest home, 2km deep in a padi field.Tan's family rents the seven-acre field for RM600 per season, "but no matter how much we work, it is still not enough".
She said the family has requested for help to repair their home about two years ago, but the response from the state government - under PAS at that time - was not encouraging.
"So we just worked harder on our fields, and with the money we earned, we repaired the house and managed to fix a piped system for water which cost us RM2,000," she said.
"We are not rich. We could not even get three of our sons married off as we are poor and girls these days want men with homes in residential areas, not on padi fields," she lamented, the streaks of fatigue and lines on her sun-worn face, showing.
Still, when asked who she would most likely vote for or what changes she would like to see in Sg Limau, Tan replied "we will wait and see what our Penghulu says".
However, for a furniture shop owner who wants to be known only as Ang (right), will continue to cast his vote for PAS despite the lack of development in the area."Many are afraid to say so but not me. I will vote for PAS as Azizan was a wonderful man. He was simple and visited us dressed in a sarong. There were no airs about him," said Ang, when met outside his shop on Sg Limau Dalam.
Ang pointed to a table near his shop where Azizan would sit when he visited. "We don't have the heart to get rid of it as we want to remember him."
On why he continues to vote PAS despite not gaining anything from an opposition assemblyperson, Ang said: "Look at Sg Limau and the padi fields here, what kind of development can you bring here?"No buildings or factories can be built here. Just let things remain as they are," he said.
Ang is excited about this by-election, though, saying "We wish we can have this every time.
"Look at MCA, it's so hard to see their faces but now, they come to see us. It's great," the 53-year-old father of four said, laughing.
Although Sg Limau is often described as a PAS stronghold, with Azizan holding the seat for five terms since 1995, not everyone is mesmerised by the party.
More developed
Shop assistant Nurliana Ghazali, 26, said it was obvious that BN constituencies were more developed than those under PAS.
"Just look at nearby Jerai, which is under BN MP and Minister Jamil Khir Baharom. The roads are bigger and more seem to be going on there," she said, when met at the electrical shop she works in Dulang Besar.
Nurliana (right) also lamented about being "misled" by Azizan and his promise to build homes in the area.
Nothing has materialised so far although there were about three groundbreaking ceremonies held at the same piece of same land.
"Many people went for the first and second groundbreaking ceremonies but when the third one came, people gave up. The land remains empty with no housing project to show," she told Malaysiakini.
He colleague Mohd Akmal Abdul Rahman, 24, concurred with her, adding that the youths in Sg Limau would most probably cast their votes for BN.
"It's because of Mukhriz. He is very friendly and gets close to the youths. He'd come here just on a motorcycle and sarong," he said, adding that the MB has plans to improve Kedah youths participation in sports, especially football.
"We feel support for BN is getting stronger here. It's time for development to pour in at Sg Limau," added Mohd Akmal.
Although Sg Limau is often described as a PAS stronghold, with Azizan holding the seat for five terms since 1995, not everyone is mesmerised by the party.
More developed
Shop assistant Nurliana Ghazali, 26, said it was obvious that BN constituencies were more developed than those under PAS.
"Just look at nearby Jerai, which is under BN MP and Minister Jamil Khir Baharom. The roads are bigger and more seem to be going on there," she said, when met at the electrical shop she works in Dulang Besar.
Nurliana (right) also lamented about being "misled" by Azizan and his promise to build homes in the area. Nothing has materialised so far although there were about three groundbreaking ceremonies held at the same piece of same land.
"Many people went for the first and second groundbreaking ceremonies but when the third one came, people gave up. The land remains empty with no housing project to show," she told Malaysiakini.
He colleague Mohd Akmal Abdul Rahman, 24, concurred with her, adding that the youths in Sg Limau would most probably cast their votes for BN.
"It's because of Mukhriz. He is very friendly and gets close to the youths. He'd come here just on a motorcycle and sarong," he said, adding that the MB has plans to improve Kedah youths participation in sports, especially football.
"We feel support for BN is getting stronger here. It's time for development to pour in at Sg Limau," added Mohd Akmal.
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