Pakatan out to dispel fragile image
TO many, it is a foregone conclusion that Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Mansor Othman will thrash the three independent candidates contesting against him in the Penanti by-election.
By Sharanjit Singh (NST)
If that is the case, there should be little reason for PKR and its allies, Pas and DAP, to dig deep into their resources and waste too much time campaigning.
This would be the logical strategy, to conserve energy for future battles, but Pakatan Rakyat does not view Penanti as just another by-election to elect a representative.
To them it is more than that.
The bigger picture is that the Penanti by-election is a platform for the opposition to present and reinforce the Pakatan Rakyat brand.
It is a campaign to show off the solidarity between PKR, Pas and the DAP.
It is for this reason that despite the absence of arch rival Barisan Nasional, all Pakatan top guns are expected to show up for the campaign.
This could be seen on nomination day itself where Mansor was accompanied by PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Bukit Gantang member of parliament Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Pas vice-president Mohamad Sabu, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, PKR vice-president R. Siva-rasa, and several other Pa-katan MPs and state assemblymen.
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang led several hundred DAP supporters.
PKR's campaign director for the Penanti by-election, Saifuddin Nasution, said just because BN was not contesting did not mean the Pakatan campaign would be toned down. Instead, the Pakatan machinery is set to be in "turbo charge mode" the next few days.
All Pakatan top guns are scheduled to make stopovers in Penanti for daily ceramah.
"They will be here. We want to exhibit the solidarity that exists in Pakatan and dispel allegations that we are a fragile pact.
"In fact, we are already looking forward to the Manik Urai by-election (in Kelantan) and Pakatan leaders will also be there in full force," Saifuddin said, admitting that such by-elections were perfect to exhibit Pakatan solidarity before the next general election. Mansor may be a shoo-in for the seat, but it has not dampened the spirits of at least one of the independents taking him on.
Yesterday, Nai Khan Ari, who pleaded for people to give him a chance during a walkabout at a market, pledged to create an upset despite acknowledging that it was like a cat taking on a tiger.
