Nik Aziz rides to the rescue
A Pakatan Rakyat source told theSun that Nik Aziz’s appearance will definitely help Zaid who is bogged down with allegations about drinking and gambling, which does not go down well in the conservative Malay Muslim area.
by Giam Say Khoon, The Sun
With only one more day left for campaigning in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat is coming here in a bid to salvage the Malay votes for the Pakatan Rakyat candidate.
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According to a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) official, Nik Aziz is touching down in the evening taking flight from Kota Baru before immediately holding a joint press conference with PKR’s Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim tonight as well as attending as least two ceramah in Kuala Kubu Baru and Batang Kali as well as a dinner hosted by PKR in Rasa.
Nik Aziz will be spending his Saturday morning in the Felda estates in Sungai Tengi, and will meet the Indian voters in Kalumpang in the afternoon before rushing off for two ceramah in Kuala Kubu Baru.
A Pakatan Rakyat source told theSun that Nik Aziz’s appearance will definitely help Zaid who is bogged down with allegations about drinking and gambling, which does not go down well in the conservative Malay Muslim area.
“We hope that Nik Aziz will be able to neutralise the issues and so that we will be able to get back the Malay votes, which we believe are swinging to Barisan Nasional now.
“The Chinese votes have dropped to 60% while Indian voters still stay at 50-50, so if we lose too many Malay votes, we will be in deep trouble,” he said.
The source added that if the Malay voters including those who have been supporting or initially supported PR, can accept the explanation and endorsement of Nik Aziz to Zaid, the opposition could still stand a chance in the battle.
During a press conference today at the PKR media centre, Zaid refused to comment on his chances when asked.
Instead, he continued to urge the young voters to come back and cast their votes.
“I am quite happy with the progress. We are making good progress although we have to face the three giants – former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“We know their purpose here in Hulu Selangor, but I speak for the people and fight for the people’s rights.
“I hope we should not be too worried and we should continue our effort to seek victory on Sunday,” he said.
 Barisan Nasional candidate P Kamalnathan meet Lim Kit Siang during his walkabout at Kg Assam Kumbang. |
Earlier in a separate press conference, DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang described the current situation as trouble, saying “the red light is on” as PR is tailing BN in the bid for the parliamentary seat.
He said the PR is facing a critical development as the BN is in the lead and its tactic to woo the Chinese and Indian voters is not to be underestimated.
“We must go all out to secure every single vote in Hulu Selangor,” he said, adding that PR is the underdog in the race.
However, Lim stressed that PR still stands a chance to retain the seat but the campaign workers must do their best for the final push.
Zaid, a former minister in the prime minister’s department who quit the government in September 2008 after protesting the arrest of three people under the Internal Security Act, is facing MIC’s information chief P. Kamalanathan in a straight fight for the seat.
The Hulu Selangor seat became vacant after PKR’s Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad (PKR) passed away on March 25.
Polling day is on Sunday and the results are expected after 11pm.
