'Better to view Tanda Putera than go to PAS ceramahs'

SG LIMAU BN has started to screen the controversial Malay movie ‘Tanda Putera’ at its operations centres as the campaign for the Sg Limau seat comes to an end on Monday.

The movie is being shown on big-screen projectors and can be heard by passers-by and those travelling along the road.

They are shown at BN centres and pondoks which are at times situated close to those of their opponent, PAS.

A screening was spotted by Malaysiakini at a BN pondok in Pekan Sg Limau Dalam which is a predominantly Chinese area, where the voters number about 1,800.

It is learnt that there will be screening at 8.45pm tomorrow night at SK Sungai Daun Tengah, which is about 4.7km from Sungai Limau.

But Gerakan, which is also targetted in the movie by director Shuhaimi Baba as being involved in some violent scenes with DAP, does not feel this is wrong.

Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang (left) suggests that Sg Limau voters watch the movie instead of going for PAS ceramahs.

Tan also explained that it is better for Sg Limau voters not to go for Pakatan ceramahs because their leaders like opposition chief and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim has not been able to make a stand on the General Sales Tax (GST).

“They have been flip-flopping on the issue and contradicting themselves on GST,” said Tan.

“To me, it’s a privilege for the voters in Sg Limau to watch the movie because I had to pay RM10 for it,” Tan told Malaysiakini.

“I don’t see anything wrong in the movie. Perhaps, by Umno showing it, they can attract some votes for the candidate,” he added.

Tan said both sides of the divide - BN and PAS - have their own strategies in garnering votes for their candidates, including giving out goodies, hampers, free meals and entertainment.

‘Based on some historical facts’

He added that Gerakan should not feel slighted about the movie as it was based on some historical facts.

“Gerakan was truly in the opposition at the time until our leader the late Dr Lim Chong Eu decided to join the Alliance,” said Tan.

“There is no point for us to be disturbed about it as it was an undeniable fact,” he added.

BN’s candidate Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim,52, is contesting in a straight fight against PAS’ Mohd Azam Samat, 37, in a 12-day campaign which has entered its tenth day today.

The rural Kedah seat which is sandwiched between Alor Setar and Sg Petani, fell vacant when its former assemblyperson and former Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak died on Sept 26.