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It Is Not The Right Time For A By-election PDF Print
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Saturday, 06 December 2008 21:57

(Sin Chew Daily) No one has expected that a badminton tragedy has caused an unwanted by-election. The parliamentary by-election in Kuala Terengganu is not welcomed by both Umno and Pas.

It is definitely a tough battle. No party would think they will lose but no party dares to say they will sure win either. This is where the problem lies. There is not much significance in a win but it wopuld be terrible to lose (Permatang Pauh is a major lesson).

Umno does not want a by-election as it is bogged down with its party elections. The dilemma it that it wants to fight the battle but may not do it well as it is concentrating on the party elections.

Also, Kuala Terengganu is certainly not a favourable battlefield for Umno. It won a narrow victory last time and that did not reflect its advantage. Particularly, the dispute of the Menteri Besar's appointment broke out only after the election. Until today, former MB Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and incumbent MB Datuk Ahmad Said are still against one another. They are having their own supporters and they must first fight for control of the by-election resources even before the by-election.

"Besides, conservatives in Umno and Pas have established a closer relationship after the elections."

More importantly, the by-election will directly affect Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's reputation. Najib is preparing to take over the Prime Minister position and he is fearful of side issues. Umno's strength is not recovered yet. Of course, victory in a sudden by-election can boost the morale but losing it will be really bad.

As for Pas, they have more worries than expectations. The contradictions between conservatives and reformists may be expanded in this by-election.

PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, as well as Terengganu PAS Commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali are conservatives. Under their leadership, they have lost two elections and if they lose again this time, it would affect their status in the party.

It is worth pondering that Pas candidate last time was Mohamad Sabu, a reformist, as well as the preferred candidate of Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

It is obvious that Hadi Awang does not want Mohamad Sabu to contest this time while Nik Aziz has shown his support to Mohamad Sabu.

It seems that the candidate selection will enlarge cracks within the party.

Besides, conservatives in Umno and Pas have established a closer relationship after the elections. They try to avoid head-on collision and see PKR and its adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as their common opponents.

It is unexpected but they have no choice but to fight face-to-face in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election this time. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Comments (7)Add Comment
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written by Goldfinger, December 06, 2008 23:27:43
To the rakyats in Kuala Terengganu,

Stay alert,keep your eyes open.There may be a change of plan in the deploying of phantom voters for the K.Terengganu by election.

About 20 buses, with police escorts,stopping traffics at toll booths along the Kesas highways,about 30mins. ago.

Heaven knows what and who are on those buses.Maybe, in order not to cause to much suspicions.They may just decides to deploy their phantoms, much,much,much earlier.

I might be wrong.But, what if i am right? So,i just hope that,rakyats in K.Terengganu will just keep their eyes wide open.

God Bless all for a waiting,well deserving victory against the decades of evil manipulations from this satanic,tyrannic regime.
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written by Oscar Winner, December 07, 2008 01:40:31
UMNO may rig the votes on polling day,
One wonders to what god they daily pray,
Ignorant KT folks buy everything BN say,
Let's wake up the folks before it’s too late........
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written by Orang Muda, December 07, 2008 01:51:28
If we encourage more MPs from BN to play badminton, then it would be faster for PR to take over the government? smilies/tongue.gif
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written by ibabonma, December 07, 2008 08:28:56
Pas just cannot do it alone, she needs Anwar, PKR & DAP. Sometimes some of their donkey senior members are plain stupid and selfish; people like Hassan Ali
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written by mikewang, December 07, 2008 09:24:22
In many constituencies, PAS needs Chinese votes, what more in KT where 11% of them are Chinese.

UMNO will attempt to show some semblance of multi-ethnic support to win this 11%.
PAS needs to display the same by showing their common PR grounds, like in Perak and Selangor.
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written by Cinakelate, December 07, 2008 11:57:24
Hei Orang Muda, I agree with you. Lets start one by one. Who is the first shall we persuade to play badminton?
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written by CPY, December 07, 2008 14:02:48
Maybe @ this time, Ahmad Is-snail will apoligize.
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