Besut bound

Supposed to pin our view on the Alvin Tan and Vivian affair but just too busy today .... sleeping.

Now we are Besut bound to catch the pulse of the Ramadhan by-election. Heard it is a rather eerie feeling by-election. Hardly any posters, low turnout for ceramah and lots of personal touch and visits.

While there are those that feels that Barisan Nasional can maintain a healthy majority of at least 2,000 and even more, rumours spread by PAS that there could be sabotage just to teach Dato Najib a lesson.

What is the lesson the 'kampong' people of Kuala Besut wish to teach? Most of the allegation by PAS have been explained and it was alleged that they are a bigger culprit. Its Anwar's favourite game of  accuse your enemy for one's own sin.

So happen Anwar's protege in PAS, Dato Husam Musa is the Campaign Director and Husam's protege is the candidate.


PAS candidate is beseiged with problems. A video tape of him claiming that he will not take the wakil rakyat allowance except a little for his business and he will 'gaji' someone to take care of the place. As PAS Branch Treasurer, he spent time helping Husam than local Muslimah's GE candidate.

But, that is all water under the bridge. The action will be in the last week.  

Big guns from both sides are crowding out the 15,000 constituency. Probably, there will be more campaigners than voters.

In that small little area, one can throw a stone from a heli and one is sure to hit a Dato's head. If lucky, a Tan Sri's.  

Perhaps there is something to look out there like Galas by-election uncovered a big can of worm or Bagan Pinang was the turn around in fortune for BN.

Maybe there is none. The real action will in the next GE.

Nevertheless, PAS is campaigning on the idea of a deadlock 16:16 situation for Terengganu. The argument is a well checked Government will be more efficient and sensitive to the rakyat's needs.

To counter that argument is that it only cripple Government. BN could likely dissolve the state assembly and go for a state "by-election."

On the hand, PAS is no willing for a "unity Government". It brings back the eerie days of Dato Dr Hassan Ali and Dr Nasharuddin Mat Isa. The Anwarinas controls PAS but the ulamaks is not about to give-in and allow them to dominate.

Husam is the Election Director because Besut is practically Kelantan. It is said that at one time ago, the Kelantan Sultan lost a bet and gave Besit to the Sultan of Terengganu like the story of P Ramlee's Nujum Pak Belalang.

Besut may have the unwritten intention to raise the profile of Husam, in which Dato Zaid Ibrahim revealed that he will be going after Pas President Dato Seri Hadi Awang. PAS is not about to start the culture of sabotaging the party in an election but one will never know.

The local "kecek" rivalry between Kelantan and Terengganu is legendary. A football local derby between Kelantan and Trengganu is as intense as Manchester United meeting Manchester City. 

If BN loses and a state assembly dissolve, it could also be a blessing. UMNO could solve the stubborn problem of Menteri Besar Dato Md Said and end his rivalry against his incumbent Dato Idris Jusoh. Md Said had tickered with the candidate list in the last General Election to put his men and ignoring local sentiment.

Will it be 16:16 or back to 17:15?

If there is no happening, we are going to spend time in Pulau Perhentian to fast, sembahyang terawih  and campaigning that is ....

It's been a while. Wonder what is the fatwa on scuba diving and fasting.

- Another Brick in the Wall