Separate dreams in KKB by-election

Race is a stark reality in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election and intelligence reports suggest that the Chinese and Malays have decided who to vote for.

DAP seems to have found a dream candidate in Pang Sock Tao to defend the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) seat.

Pang, 31, is intelligent, articulate and has taken to the campaign trail like a duck to water – the icing on the cake is that she is pretty.

Comparisons have been made with another DAP beauty, Dyna Sofya Mohd Daud, the candidate in the Teluk Intan by-election, but Pang is a cut above with her personality and political savvy.

Bersatu also thinks it has the perfect candidate in Khairul Azahari Saut, 54, who is what Malays describe as an "anak jati," someone truly native to the area.

His parents were Felda settlers in Hulu Selangor where he was born and bred, and he probably knows KKB like the back of his hand.

His parents were Umno supporters but like many Malays elsewhere, the family abandoned Umno in the 2022 General Election.

The problem with these two dream candidates is that Pang is the "Chinese dream" and Khairul is the "Malay dream".

Race is a stark reality in today's politics and intelligence reports have it that Chinese and Malays have made up their minds on who to vote for on May 11.

The race-based battle lines drawn in the state election last year are more entrenched than ever.

For instance, a local Malay businesswoman said she used to argue with her husband who supported Umno while she preferred Bersatu. She joked that there is now peace in the household because her husband has joined her in supporting Bersatu.

The popular assumption is that the Indian populace, who comprise 18% of voters, are the kingmakers and there are groups instigating them not to give DAP an easy ride.

Indeed, several MIC campaigners were given an earful a few days ago by some local Indian residents who scolded them for appearing only when fishing for votes.

There is no real election mood yet. In fact, the election fever seems hotter outside of KKB with strident voices urging for Pakatan to be taught a lesson over criticism against DAP to the Prime Minister's pro-Palestine stance.

It is doubtful if voters give two hoots about the opinions floating out there.

The candidates, including PRM's Hafizah Zainuddin and independent Nyau Ke Xin, would know by now that everyone is hurting in the pocket and the top complaint among locals is the cost of living.

DAP leaders have also stopped trying to paint the late Lee Kee Hiong as an exceptional assemblyman given the many complaints that she was not visible or active as she was battling cancer.

Her unimpressive track record is an issue and she failed to connect with Malay and Indian constituents.

A number of Chinese locals also complained they have never seen Hulu Selangor MP Mohd Hasnizan Harun, whose constituency encompasses the state seats of KKB, Hulu Bernam and Batang Kali.

A Chinese man at a kopitiam told Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu: "Bring him here, we want to meet him."

Ahmad Faizal promptly promised to bring Mohd Hasnizan, who is from PAS, for a walkabout at the morning market on Wednesday.

The former Perak mentri besar has received quite a warm response on the Chinese circuit with quite a number of people approaching him to shake his hand.

"There is no hostility. People are friendly when we go around," said Ahmad Faizal, adding he was unsure if this "Chinese warmth" would translate into votes.

KKB has this small town culture where people tend to be curious as well as cautious about outsiders and one cannot be too pushy when campaigning.

Life in a small town is supposed to be less complicated but as political analyst Ivanpal S. Grewal said, its political dynamics can be quite complex.

"Neither Bersatu nor DAP have found it easy in mixed seats and I can see candidates adjusting to the dynamics as they move around," said Ivanpal.

MCA's decision to stay out of the campaign has also contributed to the situation because it is no secret that many MCA members voted against Barisan Nasional in the past few elections.

Will the residual MCA grassroots in KKB heed the party stand and make a difference this time around?

Perikatan's Khairul Azhari is coming in with a measure of goodwill as a local familiar with what the people want and he can hit the ground running.

Pakatan's Pang who is from Ampang would be lost without people showing her around KKB. However, her opponents will have problems casting her as an outsider given her natural flair in connecting with the locals.

Surprisingly, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has become quite problematic – even among the Chinese who complain about his penchant for raising unnecessary issues.

Nga was a Chinese superstar because he was DAP's fiercest and wittiest Umno critic. It is possible that his status fell after he went from being a critic to a friend of Umno.

Candidates will be covering as much ground as possible in the coming days but the two key candidates are actually fighting over 2,000-plus votes.

DAP won the seat with a majority of around 4,000 votes and only needed a shift of some 2,000 votes for Pakatan to hold on or for Perikatan to take it away.

Most accounts have DAP's Pang ahead of Khairul Azhari at the moment.

Pang has dazzled with her village belle looks and the camera loves her but Khairul Azhari is a clear and present danger in the race for the seat.

> The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own