PAS strongholds remain firm despite BN's cash

ANALYSIS Despite dishing out close to RM6 million to better the lives of the constituents, BN has yet to gain major ground in Sg Limau, as the campaign for the rural seat enters its tenth day today.

A survey by Malaysiakini yesterday among the voters in several voting centres discovered that PAS still has a strong grip in places like Bukit Besar, even in Sungai Limau Dalam and Guar Chempedak where BN flags are seen flying high.

PAS, which stated that it can win with a slim majority of 500, is banking on the fact that 93 percent of Sg Limau's 27, 222 voters are Malays (25,323), while there are  smaller communities of Chinese (1,842), Indians (five) and the rest comprising other races.

Hashim Abu Hassan, 75 (left), said he will choose PAS as it is an “Islamic party”, and that since the day he voted, it had always been the same one.

When reminded that Umno also calls itself Islamic, Pak Teh as he is commonly known, says he does not agree with the party due to its “corrupt ways”.

Pak Teh says he lives a comfortable life and does not need to depend on the government for development.

“I don’t even take the BR1M money. I would rather give it to those who need it,” said the padi farmer, who owns several plots of land in Sungai Limau Dalam.

He expressed unhappiness with the BN state government in the past which he claimed “seized” his lands and paid him at below the market price.

“They wanted to build schools. And then they said they wanted to build teachers’ quarters. They paid me RM17,000 for my land which I later discovered actually cost between RM70,000 to RM80,000,” he lamented.

“That’s cruel,” he told Malaysiakini.

Pak Teh has only fond memories of the former assemblyperson Azizan Abdul Razak, who served Sg Limau for five terms since 1995, before he died on Sept 26, paving the way for a by-election here.

“He has little (in terms of material things) even after he died. How many ministers can be like him?” asked the father of four, who has seen ministers in their big cars drive in and out of his peaceful town lately.

Restaurant owner Nor Azira Zakaria, 38 (left), said she would be voting for PAS because she is confident of the party’s candidate Mohd Azam Samat, 37, as he is bringing a “new concept” to Sg Limau.

“Just looking at him, we feel he has a good aura. As a young candidate, he has an open mind and vast knowledge. He can pull the younger generation together,” said the mother of two children from Pekan Sg Limau Dalam.

Not blind to cash incentives

Nor Azira is not blind to the many cash incentives like BR1M, which she has received twice, but sees it more as “duit rakyat (people’s money)” than benevolence from the federal government.

However, she is simply not attracted to the BN candidate and former university lecturer Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 53, and does not have confidence in him to be her assemblyperson.

“It’s probably his age. Even his photo shows him as tired and not very healthy. Maybe if they (BN) had placed another candidate, it would be better as these days, being a state rep is challenging, so a younger person is better,” she quipped.

What does she expects from Azam, a former religious school teacher, if he wins this by-election on Nov 4, polling day, although PAS no longer rules the Kedah government?

Nor Azira says she wants to see some “social” changes in her community.

“For example, I do not want to see the women and girls here wear tudung but still wear sexy attires, and I certainly do not want to see the young men involved with Mat Rempits,” she said.

Ever since the campaign started on Oct 23, BN has been clamouring about bringing change to Sg Limau, which they said is underdeveloped under PAS, even when their assemblyperson was a menteri besar.

“We always had development here. We have buildings, road and other facilities, even under PAS rule. What we need is peace and for all communities to be taken care of equally,” she added.

Meanwhile, several youths Malaysiakini spoke to were rather concerned over BN's apparent vote-buying tactics, as there are quite a number of “fence sitters” who have yet to decide who to vote for.

“They’ve been pouring in a lot of money. I am afraid some will be swayed, especially the Chinese community,” said wireman Hujaiymi Abu Bakar, 28 (right), from Sg Limau Dalam.

“Such tactics may sway the younger generation, too, although many would still vote for PAS despite all the money,” he added.

He, too, prefers PAS as BN has been mired in too much “rasuah” (corruption), though this seem to be the standard reply of the opposition supporters.

Does he know the BN or PAS candidates so he can make an informed choice?

Says Hujaiymi, who is voting for the second time, “I do not the BN candidate but I have met with PAS’. The BN candidate only seems to focus on his people.”