Nik Aziz admits wrong strategy caused defeat in Bagan Pinang

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat admitted PAS’ defeat in the Bagan Pinang by-election was due to a wrong strategy in their campaign.


He said relying on “ceramah” (political rallies) did not bring in the intended results. Most voters in Bagan Pinang did not know much about PAS and thus, did not vote for the party, he said.

“This caused the votes for PAS to drop as compared to the last general election,” Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, added that the voters also had the perception that the party comprised terrorists and extremists, causing them to be too afraid to accept it.

The huge majority won by BN's Mohd Isa Samad at the well fought by-election at Bagan Pinang against his PAS rival is a major morale booster for Umno.

The result was as follow:

Mohd Isa Abd Samad (BN): 8,013

Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (PAS): 2,578

Majority: 5,435

Spoilt votes: 223

Pas' illegal stalls a nuisance

Pas supporters from outside Negri Sembilan are making a quick buck in Bagan Pinang but while inconveniencing the locals. Reported by NST.

The mushrooming of illegal stalls selling all sorts of things, from food to clothes and other party merchandise, has caused massive traffic congestion in this resort town.

Many residents are unhappy and are hoping that the local council will address the issue immediately.

G. Kumar, 35, of Taman PD Utama, said the stalls have caused traffic congestion since the start of the Bagan Pinang by-election campaign, leaving many people including himself late for work.
"Usually it takes me only 10 minutes to reach my workplace in town but because of the stalls, I have to leave my house early or spend at least half an hour in the congestion.

Ahmad Tarmizi, 55, said the stalls at the Pas operations centre have caused a lot of inconvenience for the people living near the area.

"People park their car by the side of the road without even considerating those living in the area. Sometimes, it is difficult for us to come out of our area or return home because of the massive crawl because of the stalls," he said.

PM: Victory more important than majority

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said, winning in the Bagan Pinang state by-election is more important to the Barisan Nasional than the size of the majority obtained.


"There's no need to talk about winning big or small, as long as (we) win. Winning is the important thing," the prime minister told Malaysian journalists after his four-day visit to France.

He said that to win, the BN must work very hard and carry out an effective campaign to get the message across to the people.

He had been informed that the BN campaign was running smoothly and had received encouraging response but the effort must continue till the end.

No chance for PAS to win the Bagan Pinang by-election

Politically, any candidate running for the by-election will need to have an effective political campaign strategy.

What can we be very sure about in this by-election in Bagan Pinang is, the BN candidate Tan Sri Isa Samad will win the race as it had been its stronghold all the while. The only on the question that's put to us is about the majority.


Isa Samad, 60, a local who served as Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar for 22 years since 1982, is facing state PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, of Lenggeng.

Isa Samad is well known as the local hero. He is said to be more popular even some are criticized him. He is a grassroots man and people at the grassroots level are willing to support him.

Some political experts agree that the most critical factor to BN victory is the 4,604 postal voters in the uniformed corps.

Traditionally, a majority of the postal voters backed BN which lead BN to victory. Postal voters make up about a third of the electorate in Bagan Pinang and are widely seen as giving an edge to Barisan Nasional candidate Isa Samad.

Bagan Pinang has 13,664 registered voters of whom 62.8 per cent are Malays, 20.7 per cent Indians 11 per cent Chinese and 5.5 percent others. Postal voters total to 4,604.

Indian voters in Bagan Pinang should vote BN

Human Rights Party secretary-general P. Uthayakumar said it would not support BN or PR, instead urge all HRP members, Hindraf activists and Indian supporters to abstain from voting in Bagan Pinang by-election.

Ironically, democracy is a system of government in which the actual governing is carried out by the people governed, or the power to do so is granted by them.

Voting is an important part of the formal democratic process and political and democratic right of the voters.

By far, Indian can no longer be denied their political and democratic right; in fact, they should have the right to freely choose their political status.

By abstain from voting in Bagan Pinang by-election; it’s just like putting Indian down and taking them out of practical politics. The success Story of India in Malaysia under BN government is certainly quite undeniable.

There are so many successful Indian lawyers and doctors, professional as well as high ranking government servant in Malaysia, thus it's completely illogical that much Indian blames the government.

Undeniably, the BN government is taking very good care of Indian right. In April 1992, the BN government had offered 9 million Telekom shares to Maika Holdings Berhad, the investment arm of MIC. It was established in 1982 purportedly to enable Indian Malaysians to share in the country’s economy growth.

Unfortunately, in April 1992, it was discovered that Maika Holdings involved in a 9 million Telekom shares scandal. Why should Indian be angry with BN? Should MIC shoulder all the blame for failure?

The question arises: How far should Indian in Bagan Pinang support BN?

Isa Samad will win with a big majority

Former vice-president Isa Samad will get a big win in the forthcoming Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

Isa Samad

Ironically, the support for BN has increased now compared with the 2008 general election. It shall demonstrates the strong grassroots support for Isa Samad who was Negeri Sembilan MB for more than two decades, and the heavy campaigning to be undertaken by the BN.


Zulkefly

The late Umno's Azman Mohd Noor, 55, defeated PAS’s Ramli Ismail with a 2,333-vote majority in the last general election. There are 13,644 registered voters, including 4,604 postal voters in the constituency.

Isa, 59, former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar has been Teluk Kemang Umno chief since 1982. He began his political career in 1978 when he won the Linggi state seat, which he held till 2004.

He contested and won Jempol parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election and was subsequently made the Federal Territories Minister before stepping down in 2005.

He steadily rose up the ranks culminating in his being appointed Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar following the general election of 1982.

Zulkefly, 45, is a businessman who holds a masters degree in science and has six children.

His claim to fame includes successfully leading the Broga No-Incinerator Committee, which managed to pressure the government to scrap the construction of a 'mega-incinerator'.

He has contested in three elections since 1999 but lost by a 1,285 majority in his 2008 foray in the Lenggeng state seat.

Isa is the right candidate for Bagan Pinang

Umno fields its former vice-president Tan Sri Isa Samad as the candidate in the forthcoming Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

BN election director Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described Isa, who was the Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar for 22 years until 2004, as a grassroots leader who has worked hard for the party.

Muhyiddin said, this by-election is about the people, people first, whoever the people want, we will grant the people their wish,” he added.

Ironically, it is claimed that the former Mentri Besar being able to unite the people in Port Dickson as the constituents, including the non-Malays, accepted him.

It is believed that he will win many more votes than former BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor.

Isa’s selection today is seen to be his second attempt in making a comeback after failing to defend the Umno vice-president post during the party election last April.

Isa, who is the former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar, was suspended from Umno in 2004 for six years after the disciplinary committee found him guilty of money politics during the party polls. However, his suspension was reduced to three years following an appeal.

The Bagan Pinang by-election was made necessary following the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4. In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS, by some 2,000 votes.