Bagan Pinang by-election

Bagan Pinang by-election is underway with another couple of hours before voting closes amidst few reported chaos in Teluk Kemang area. It shows that this by-election is one which is keenly contested by both candidates with "loan" supporters and election workers imported from other states to secure the victory for the party.

BN/UMNO would be keen to change the public perception of the present Government after the many by-election disasters where they were overrun by Pakatan Rakyat.

Tan Sri Isa Samad aka "Mr Popular", the former Menteri Besar (MB) of Negeri Sembilan claims to be well liked in Bagan Pinang with a service record of well over 30 years and a safe candidate for UMNO. Despite this, there were disputes over the claims that;

• the numerous abandoned projects in the state during his tenure as MB,
• the neglect of the people of Bagan Pinang especially the many estates in that constituency which is majority represented by the Indian community,
• his statement of "politik wang bukan rasuah" is on everyone's lips and supported by the high echelons of UMNO does provide the certainty that the party leaders do endorse bribery and corruption.
  

The PAS candidate, Zulkefly Mohamad Omar meanwhile has a clean record which BN could not find fault and had been the consistency in policy for candidates in the many by-elections prior to this. Compared to the BN candidates of past by-elections i.e. Permatang Pasir and Kuala Terengganu including Bagan Pinang, their tainted personal records is something the voters would have to consider deeply.

A vote for the tainted candidate means a vote for corruption or wrongdoing! Ku Li delivered his simple thoughts on Bagan Pinang here.

Nevertheless, it is definitely one of the more keenly contested by-elections in recent times and the favorite Tan Sri Samad has the upper edge over his competitor especially with the 4,000 odd postal votes set to favor BN. This is re-affirmed after the campaigning in the armay camp by BN.

Saying that, it is never certain that should the postal votes be carried out fairly, it would provide a certain degree of vote swing to PAS, given the frustration and dissapointment over some Government decisions which affected the rakyat, with servicemen included.

With the high turnout during the ceramahs of both parties, it does seem that votes would be divided evenly and the majority would be down to the wire for either winning candidate.

Should Isa win, Negeri Sembilan State Exco would be thrown into a dilemma of whether accepting him and assigning him a portfolio or Isa being considered again for the MB role for perhaps history to repeat itself. Could this be the end for Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan?

Should Zulkefly wins, the voters judgement would definitely be ringing in the ears of the UMNO leaders for time to come and signify the requirement for the party leaders to kick their dirty habits out once for all. For the Bagan Pinang folks, it is an endorsement for a clean, trustworthy and integrity while it's worth the try to allow Zulkefly to deliver his promise.

Regardless of the financial power of UMNO during this by-election, Bagan Pinang could be in for a surprise result!