Bukit Selambau Part 1

by C.C Toh

The Fact. N25 BUKIT SELAMBAU

Total Voters: 34,977 Race Percentage: M:50.20% C:19.25% I:29.53% L:1.02% 1.

V. Arumugam (Bebas) (13,225) 2. S. Krishnan (BN) (10,863) Majority: 2,362

Total vote: 26,450 Voters percentage: 75.62% Damage vote: 2,362 Former

Assemblyman: Datuk V. Saravanan (BN)(Majoriti: 7,695 undi)

Every Malaysian will once again will focus their attention to Bukit Selambau. After 11 months being Bukit Selambau Assemblyman, V. Arumugam had resigned immediately, causing shock to the whole nation.

He tendered his resignation as Kedah Exco a few days after several complaints made by the 500 residents of Sungai Petani. Hence, by-election will be held at N25 Bukit Selambau.

The Election Commission of Malaysia had announced that the Bukit Selambau nomination date is on March 29 and the by-election will be conducted on 7th of April 2009.

Bukit Selambau was famous once after the winning of PAS in 12th National Election on 8th of March, last year.

The N25 was famous after a controversial decision on November last year, announced by Kedah’s PAS State Government to endorse a HIGH-TECH PIG FARM PROJECT at Bukit Selambau.

The project had been cancelled by PAS state government due to environmental factors and series of demonstrations.

The candidates. Traditionally, Bukit Selambau seat was contested by MIC, but UMNO Merbok had a press statement demanding the seat.

The seat was won by "bebas" candidate V.Arumugam on the last national election over S.Krishnan of MIC.

Arumugam then joined PKR and become one of the Kedah State Exco. PAS had also in deed wants the seat and ex-PPP woman chief also offer to contest as "bebas".

MIC demands of the Bukit Selambau seat due it was traditionally contested. MIC got a good track record on winning the seat for 3 consecutive national elections.

It was a great win by Datuk V.Saravanan with 7695 majority!

Will Najib answer the Samy Vellu’s call? The rumors said that ex Lunas assemblyman, Dato’ Ganesan had started the game by meeting with local UMNO leaders to gain support.

UMNO Merbok’s Division, Datuk Tajul Urus, demands contestant for N25 Bukit Selambau assembly seat will be chosen from UMNO.

The reason is due to the majority of 50.2% of Malays in the DUN and that seat was one of the UMNO seat before it was compromised to MIC.

Will Najib make the right path for Tajul’s demand?

While PAS is also in conflict with PKR demanding the seat from Pakatan Rakyat, PAS notice that the Malays are the majority in DUN Bukit Selambau and of course they are worried to lose the DUN’s seat if Malay voters go for UMNO’s candidate!

Will PKR just simply allowing the seat to be given to PAS easily? Will PKR’ de facto leader compromised the seat and hurts his Indian buddies? Let us wait and see.

There must be a good "drama" to be watched. The rumors spread that 6 candidates are now lobbying to contest the seat!

Four buses are seen to enter Bukit Selambau area campaigning for the candidates.

Some of them are eager to meet Merbok’s Parliament Member to gain support from him.

What a chaos for PKR! In the meanwhile, the Malays PKR also setting up their own candidate. It seems to be a fiesta among them.

How about the Ex-PPP G. Sarala? Suddenly she claimed that she will gain good support due to her locality. She looked so confident to win the people of Bukit Selambau votes! So optimistic! While ex MIC "Puteri" also rumored to contest the by-election on "bebas" ticket.

Two "bebas" females’ candidates for Bukit Selambau?

DAP also had been said to take part in this game. The rumors saying that two candidates are now lobbying their position in contesting the Bukit Selambau’ DUN.

Will they "cut" out PKR and PAS to represent Pakatan Rakyat?

If the candidate presented by BN or PR are Indians form MIC or PKR, and G. Sarala be a "bebas" candidate, I was assured by a good friend of mine that he will definitely contesting the N25 Bukit Selambau DUN’s seat.

He is Malay. He is very well known among the Bukit Selambau residents of Malays, Chinese, Indians and Siamese.

Well wide experience in politic though he was ex-UMNO leader in UMNO Merbok Division.

He quit UMNO at the same day as Tun Dr. Mahathir. But he will contest in one condition, "the BN candidate must be an Indian" than he will join the battle of the "hill"!

It can be a fiesta of democracy in Bukit Selambau or it can be turn to be a disaster for Bukit Selambau residents?

The people will judge. The people will use their power to choose the best candidate.

They will get a lot of choice and make sure that they will choose someone who is with "moral values".