A ‘good shower’ for BN

A downpour turns out to be a boon for BN campaigners as they go about helping the flood victims.

LABIS: The rain spoiled the show yesterday. It dampened the spirits of the rivals who had to stay holed up in their respective rented houses and operation centres. It also slowed down the tempo of the campaigning.

The dowmpour caused flash floods in certain kampungs and low lying areas here and Felda schemes.

However, the bad weather in a way gave Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mohd Azahar Ibrahim a boost: he went around the flooded areas to help the victims and listen to their grouses.
Last night, there were few ceramahs with small turnouts. A ceramah held by DAP and PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat at Dataran Labis drew only 150 spectators. Some PKR operation centres have closed shop.

BN kept its campaign indoors as many of its members were busy helping the flood victims.

In some PKR operation centres, the workers have closed shop. Words have it that these centres were operated by members and divisions outside Johor who felt slighted when PAS insisted on putting up its candidate for the coming Merlimau state seat by-election in Malacca.

PKR is keen to field its candidate but PAS also wants the seat because it feels Merlimau is its traditional constituency.

The tussle for the seat may have a long-term effect on Pakatan Rakyat as each party tries to outdo the other to helm the coalition’s leadership.

Sinking feeling

The three parties have had several “quarrels and arguments as well as disagreements” on many issues but the leaders have managed to cool things down to project a united front.

Another reason why the PKR centres have folded up is that there is a sinking feeling that PAS is already losing the fight.

Even young PAS campaigners from outside Johor exuded disappointment although they still wave the party’s flags.

“Normala (Sudirman) is not a candidate of substance. We just cannot market her…” said a young PAS campaigner from Kedah.

Another PAS campaigner, 50, said that other members campaigning in the Felda settlements found it hard to “sell her”.

Given such a situation, BN seems to be counting its majority but it may not reach the level of 2,400- majority votes it bagged in the 2008 general election.

The Chinese voters in Labis are said to be holding their cards close to their chest on which party they would vote for as MCA desperately continues its chase for their votes.

With two more days to polling, the Chinese community is still giving the MCA the cold treatment while it flocks to DAP’s ceramahs. - FMT