Tenang: Who got the extra card...

Its nomination day for Tenang state seat by-election. Irrespective of how many candidates are taking on Barisan's Azhar Ibrahim, the party workers must bear in mind that its a new 'war game' this time around.

After 21 years without any by-election in Johor, dont take for granted that the political scenario is similar to what we had back in the 1980s. The playground is getting bigger, the players have multiplied while the modus operandi gets more sophisticated.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin has threw a challenge for BN to chalk 'at least 5,000 majority' victory on January 30 poll, almost double from the 2,492 votes registered in the 2008 general election. Who would translate that challenge into reality?

The party workers will have to bear such a big responsibility. Confidence in winning is there - knowing Johor is BN's strongest stronghold - but the figure can either be enhanced or reduce significantly.

I just want to see BN workers start working in the morning and not to wait until the sun is down, unlike the Opposition party workers (especially Pas) who are accustomed to start wooing voters after the Subuh prayer.

I have covered almost all general elections and by-elections since 1981 and I noticed how Pas campaign machinery start cracking in the morning while the government supporters taking their sweet time before getting on the job.

When Pas party workers have already distributed about 10,000 pamphlets, the BN workers were just about to begin!

As both candidates, including Pas' Normala Sudirman are known to be fully-respected by the people in Tenang, character assassination is expected not to be part of campaigning issues. Even locals are not used to such 'dirty tactic' and badmouthing, thus sending a signal to both sides (including bloggers) not to start one.

Tenang folks are also united in so many ways. As to whether they are members of Umno, Pas, MCA, PKR or what, they dont mind sharing the same coffee table and chat as friends. Their political ideology may differ but not their line of friendship.

So, bloggers and journalists alike, you need to be more careful as this is not Kuala Terengganu, Bukit Gantang or Galas. There is almost no major issue in Tenang.

The only issue is to display our extra cards in wooing their support for BN. Do we have that?