Kedah N25: Round 1...Rakyat leads (marginally)

They came, all 15 of them. All inspired to be the winning candidate for Kedah N25 comes 7th April 2009. And along the way, they have entered themselves into the Malaysian Book of Records. The most candidates for any elections in Malaysia...

A record of 13 candidates. 6 Malays, 6 Indians and 1 Chinese. Out of these independent candidates, 1 is a former UMNO member, 1 is a suspended PKR member, 1 is a PPP member, 1 is a former Gerakan member. A truly mixed bag of aspirants. So far, there is no report that the balance independents are former MCA, PAS or DAP members. If there are, then this shall be a truly colourful event where all the major parties in peninsular Malaysia are represented, eitehr by active members , suspended members or even ex-members....

It shows that the Indians are divided in their choice, the Malays are unhappy N25 being an Indian allocated seat, whilst what the sole Chinese independent candidate is beyond understanding.

Maybe the sole Chinese candidate is banking on mathematical calculation that he gets 19 % of the votes since he is the sole Chinese candidate where the Chinese constituents make up of 19 % of the total votes. If he use that approach, then he is home scot free as he will be running away with 19 % of the votes whilst the Malay candidates each getting 8.3 % whilst the Indians each getting a measly 3.6 % of the total votes.

It will also means that, potentially, 14 candidates may be losing their deposits. That would not happen, right? Malaysian is already beyond those race based politics. Majority of the candidates will be losing their votes. It is not too late for them to back out and salvage the deposit. Let BN slog out with PR...this is not wrestling royal rumble ...so back off and return to your corners. together with your supporters.

The feel on the ground is still with the rakyat. PR, with drums beatings and lions dancing, comes in with 5000 supporters. BN with Samy Vellu in tow (I missed him out in my last posting), Hishamuddein, Shahrizat has 3000 supporters converging to the nomintion center.

With Samy claiming that he has been on the ground for the past 18 days, Samy still failed to convince the Indians to support MIC i.e. BN. The fact that 6 of the Independents are Indians speaks volumes of his failure. If Samy cannot contain 10,400 odd Indian voters in Bukit Selambau, then what comfort is there that he can convince 24,700 voters of Malay and Chinese origins to vote for BN?

Kedah N25 may give BN a fairer chance than P59. Here, there is no "referendum". The vacated seat was formerly held by an independent so there is no clear advantage for now. The voters will judge on the package offered by BN and PR. BN has been leading the country for the past 50 + years, whilst PR has been running the state for the past 1 year. It is time for the voters to give their marks to the performance of BN and PR. This by election is equivalent to "2nd semester" exam. And the rakyats has another "6 semesters" to judge BN and PR....

The MSM and the blogs has been quite restrained for Kedah N25...maybe they will pick up more juice later...who knows.....

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...