PETALING JAYA (Feb 24, 2008): The following are the hot seats to watch in Malaysia's 12th General Election on March 12:

FEDERAL TERRITORY
Parliament

Lembah Pantai
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abd Jalil (BN-Umno)
Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR)
N. Periasamy (Independent)

P114 Kepong
Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP)
Lau Hoi Keong (BN-Gerakan)

P115 Batu
lim Si Pin (BN-Gerakan)
Tian Chua (PKR)

P120 Bukit Bintang
Fong Kui Lun (DAP)
Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng (BN-MCA)

P122 Seputeh
Teresa Kok Suh Sim (DAP)
Carol Chew Chee Lin (BN-MCA)

P116 Wangsa Maju
Yew Teong Look (BN-MCA)
Wee Choo Keong (PKR)

SELANGOR
Parliament
P98 Gombak
Azmin Ali (PKR)
Said Anuar Said Ahmad (BN-Umno)

P104 Kelana Jaya
Datuk Lee Hwa Beng (BN-MCA)
Loh Gwo Burne (PKR)
Billie Lim

P106 Petaling Jaya Utara
Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (BN-MCA)
Tony Pua  (DAP)

SELANGOR
State
N4 Sekinchan
Ng Suee Lim (DAP)
Puah Boon Choon (BN-MCA)

N44 Sg Pinang
Teng Chang Kim (DAP)
Dato Song Kee Chai (BN-MCA)

N30 Kinrara
Dr Kow Cheong Wei (BN-MCA)
Teresa Kok Suh Sim (DAP)
State

N48 Kota Alam Shah
Ching Su Chen (BN-Gerakan)
M.Manoharan (in absentia) (DAP)

N16 Batu Caves
T. Mohan (BN-MIC)
Amirudin Shari (PKR)

NEGRI SEMBILAN
Parliament
P131 Rembau
Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Umno)
Badrul Hisham Shaharin (PKR)

JOHOR
Parliament
P142 Labis
Chua Tee Yong (BN-MCA)
Teoh Eng Ching (DAP)

MALACCA
Parliament
P138 Kota Melaka
Wong Nai Chee (BN-MCA)
Sim Tong Him (DAP)

PENANG
Parliament
P46 Batu Kawan
Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (BN-Gerakan)
Prof Dr P.Ramasamy (DAP)
 
P48 Bukit Bendera
Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye (BN-Gerakan)
Liew Chin Tong (DAP)

P44 Permatang Pauh
Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR)
Datuk Pirdaus Ismail (BN-Umno)
 
P43 Bagan
Lim Guan Eng (DAP)
Sharon Song Choy Leng (BN-MCA) 

PERAK
Parliament
P62 Sungai Siput
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (BN-MIC)
Dr D.Jeyakumar (PKR)
Nor Rizan Oon (Independent)

P66 Batu Gajah
Fong Po Kuan (DAP)
Cheah Yoke Can (BN-MCA)

P64 Ipoh Timor
Lim Kit Siang (DAP)
Liew Mun Hon (BN-MCA)

KELANTAN
Parliament
P19 Tumpat
Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS)
Dr Asraf Wajdi Dusuki (BN-Umno)

P21 Kota Baru
Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah (PAS)
Datuk Muhammad Ratmi Che Salleh (BN-Umno)

P25 Bachok
Nasharuddin Md Isa (PAS)
Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin (BN-Umno)

State
N9 Kota Lama
Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah (PAS)
Tan Ken Teng (BN-MCA)

Selangor analysis by Terence Fernandez

BN's non-Malay candidates face challenges in Selangor
PETALING JAYA (Feb 24, 2008): Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo's aspiration of making his state zero-opposition territory could be realised if the Barisan Nasional (BN) repeated the momentum it set in 2004 when it took 54 of the 56 state seats.

All things remaining equal, it only has to concentrate on the Sekinchan and Sungai Pinang state seats which had been DAP strongholds for three terms.
That would be sweet. BN goes into the polls controlling the 22 parliamentary seats in Selangor.

However, much has changed since 2004. The feel-good scenario following the transition of power from Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has waned.

The higher cost of living in this developed state is cause for many grouses, which is why DAP's Ng Suee Lim is expected to increase his 344-vote majority to retain the Chinese stronghold of Sekinchan.

Likewise, Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Kim will continue needling BN representatives in the Selangor assembly for another term.

In the more affluent neighbourhoods, national issues will come to the fore, which explains Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) strategy in placing Loh Gwo Burne – the man who taped lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam allegedly brokering the appointment of judges – against hot favourite, MCA’s Datuk Lee Hwa Beng, in the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat. Also throwing his hat into the ring is Billie Lim of “Dare to Fail” fame – who at best a spoiler.

Whatever dissatisfaction the electorate may have with the BN, expect the popular Lee, who was Subang Jaya assemblyman for three terms, to win comfortably.
Likewise, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Donald Lim Siang Chai -- MCA incumbents for Petaling Jaya Utara and Petaling Jaya Selatan respectively - are expected to retain their seats due to their hands-on approach in solving their constituents’ problems.

Lim should have no problem defeating PKR’s Hee Loy Sian as he constantly wins by over 20,000 votes.

Chew, though, is expected to face a tougher fight against DAP’s Tony Pua. In the last election, DAP’s Ronnie Liu took half the votes.

National issues will also be at the back of the minds of electorates in the Subang parliamentary seat as fresh-faced S. Murugesan of the MIC (who replaced Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar) takes on heavyweight R. Sivarasah.

The MIC used to win this seat comfortably by over 10,000 votes, but this time, expect the PKR vice-president to inflict some damage.

For the first time in any election, Indian issues will be a factor, which is why areas with large Indian communities will be closely watched.

The sentiments fanned by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) following a string of temple demolitions by the Selangor government and the increasing dissatisfaction with the MIC for its failure to uplift the lot of the Indian community is expected to slash the BN’s lead in parliamentary seats in and around Klang with a high concentration of Indians, and where most of the temple demolitions took place.

In danger are Kota Raja (MIC youth chief S.A. Vigneswaran vs PAS’s Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud) and Kapar (MIC Wanita chief Datin Paduka K. Komala Devi vs PKR’s S. Manikavasagam).

MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel is expected to retain his Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat over PKR’s Zainal Abidin Ahmad – thanks largely to the Malay votes.

State seats where MIC will face tough fights include Batu Caves (T. Mohan vs PKR’s Amirudin Shari), where the local MIC has threatened to support the Opposition due to the dropping of long-standing incumbent V. Jagarasah.

Incumbent Kamala Ganapathy will also face problems retaining Sri Andalas as she faces PKR’s Dr Xavier Jayakumar, who is expected to milk the Indian issue.
Ironically, communal issues will not be a factor in Kota Alam Shah where Hindraf leader DAP's M. Manoharan will face Gerakan's Ching Su Chien. With an electorate comprising 58% Chinese, the ISA detainee is expected to lose, even if he gets all 24% Indian support.

Newcomer K. Parthiban, who won the Ijok by-election last year, will be facing PKR’s Mutthiah Maria Soosay in Bukit Melawati. There are fewer Indian voters here and this constituency has few issues which may derail BN’s hopes.

However, it’s not going to be so easy for Datuk Mohamed Sayuti Said, who swapped Bukit Melawati with Parthiban for Ijok, where PKR’s Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will be making a second attempt at capturing the seat.

He lost by 1,850 votes in the by-election, gaining ground in Chinese areas and several Malay kampungs.

For the first time in 20 years, Serdang will have a new MP. MCA’s Datuk Yap Pian Hon has been dropped in favour of Datuk Hoh Hee Lee. Whether sentimentality will be Hoh’s undoing remains to be seen, but one thing is clear - the electorate here votes for the man, not the party.

So the DAP’s Teo Hie Ching may have a fighting chance to take Serdang.

DAP's parachuting seldom gets it any vote. However, in Puchong where Karpal Singh's son Gobind Singh Deo will take on Gerakan incumbent Lau Yen Peng, national issues again will cause a dent to the BN in townships.

The Kinrara state seat is Dr Kow Cheong Wei’s (BN-MCA) for the taking. An effective assemblyman who initiated bringing the light rail transit to Puchong, Kow is popular and visible to his voters. In spite of this, expect him to lose some votes to the DAP – only because he is being taken on by powerhouse Teresa Kok.

Bukit Gasing will see electorates in a dilemma. They have two effective candidates, both with proven track records – incumbent Gerakan assemblyman Datuk Lim Thuang Seng and DAP’s Edward Lee, a proponent of good governance from his work as a residents association chairman and spokesperson for ratepayers in Petaling Jaya. Lim has the edge.

Cempaka and Teratai under the Pandan parliamentary seat are two interesting seats to watch. Both incumbents – Umno’s Datuk Mad Aris Mad Yusuf and Gerakan’s Yap Soo Sun -- were dropped following a series of exposes on land grabs involving these two men.

The electorate would probably give the ruling coalition a second chance, but the rumblings among Mad Aris and Yap’s supporters could prove detrimental to the BN. Expect PAS’s Iskandar Abdul Samad to give Norsimah Hashim a run for her money in Cempaka, but Yap’s replacement Datuk Lum Weng Keong can put his name down as ADUN against DAP’s Lee Ying Ha.

Likewise, Datuk Zakaria Md Deros's removal in Port Klang was expected to cause major problems to the BN. To ease tensions, a compromise was reached with the fielidng of his scandal-free daughter-in-law Roselinda Abdul Jamil, who is expected to beat PKR's Badrul Hisham Abdullah and independent ex-army man Nazir Mansor.

As one can see, the BN is going to face problems in non-Umno strongholds. The largely Malay voters in rural areas traditionally vote for the ruling party. Thus this election should see the BN upping the ante in wooing the Indians and Chinese.

Taking this group of voters for granted will be asking for trouble.

Objections rejected
SHAH ALAM (Feb 24, 2008): Despite 11 objections, six candidates vying for the Sri Andalas and Sri Muda state seats and the Kota Raja parliamentary seat, will face-off each other in the March 8 general election.

The objections had ranged from, spelling error of the seats contested, contestants’ occupation stated in the nomination forms and the missing identity card number of one of the witnesses in the forms.

Returning officer Mohtar Ani ruled out the objections, after holding a discussion with his officers, before announcing the candidates’ names at 12.05pm at the Section 32  multipurpose hall here today.

PAS’ Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, for the second time, is challenging incumbent Barisan Nasional’s MIC Youth head S.A.Vigneswaran for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat.

For the Sri Andalas and Sri Muda state seats, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s A. Xavier Jayakumar and Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei are challenging the incumbents, BN-MIC’s A Kamalam and BN-Umno’s Datuk Amzah Umar, respectively.

At one point while the candidates were filing their nomination papers, things became a little tense when their supporters in an open field areabegan jeering each other.

According to an Election Commission staff, the Barisan Nasional supporters questioned the use of a microphone by the PAS and PKR supporters, accusing them of making a ceramah.

Bottles of mineral water and sticks were seen being hurled, but the police prevented the situation from getting worse when they immediately dispatched the light strike force and federal reserve units.

A PAS-PKR official claimed one of their supporters was injured after a stick hit him, but this could not be verified.However, the ambulance on standby was seen heading towards where the PAS-PKR supporters were assembled.

State police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar who arrived shortly after the incident  brushed away the incident as minor.

“Everything’s fine, only some small incidents here and there, its normal during elections,” he told newsmen.

The jeering however continued from time to time as everyone waited for the names of the candidates to be announced.

Earlier in the day, the BN candidates, were escorted by their supporters who were carrying banners and placards, to the nomination centre.

About five minutes later, the PAS-PKR candidates and their supporters, also carrying with the parties’ flags and banners made their way from the opposite side of the road.

Vigneswaran when asked about his chances of retaining the seat, said he is confident the younger generation will give their support to him and BN-MIC.

His challenger Siti Mariah believes she has a better chance this time around as she had obtained 40% of the votes in her previous attempt.

As for Kamalam, the MIC candidate who  is going for a third term  is confident of winning the seat because the people are confident with the BN-led government.
Jayakumar said he wants to bring about changes to the local council, adding the people’s voice are not heard.

He added the state’s natural resources, including water are depleting rapidly and the authorities are not doing enough to preserve the environment.

Amzah meanwhile said the people can gauge for themselves the developments brought about by the BN and added the voters are wise enough to choose the right candidates to represent them.

Mat Shuhaimi, a first timer, did not say much except that their chances of winning are as good as their opponents and they will prove their worth if selected.

DAP's Charles takes up bread-and-butter issues 
KLANG (Feb 24, 2008): Political veteran Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng, 51, is up against newbie Charles Santiago, a self-employed activist, in the Klang parliamentary seat.

When met at the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) after he had filed his nomination papers, Ch’ng who is Selangor MCA chairman said 66% of the voters in Klang are non-Malays and it was important to put the best candidate for this seat to serve the voters.

The Opposition parties, on the other hand, choose candidates based on the timing of issues, and are willing to give up their seats to other parties as demonstrated in Ijok when DAP gave up its seat and sacrificed its Indian candidate for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Ch’ng said.

DAP candidate Charles, 47, however remains confident, saying it was not impossible for a new face to beat a party veteran, citing MCA’s Ong Ka Chun’s defeat to DAP’s Fong Poh Kuan in Batu Gajah in the last general election.

Charles, an activist whose hobby is bird watching, said he decided to run for a parliamentary seat to fight for the various issues which have been affecting Malaysians of all races.

“This includes the privatisation of basic amenities like water, electricity and healthcare and maybe even education in the future,” he said.

Parliament has increasingly come under the control of corporate institutions and is a millionaires' club. There is little regard for the difficulties faced by the poor of all races in the country,” said Charles.

Fellow party member Ronnie Liu (DAP-Pandamaran) urged voters to be colour blind and vote for justice, and check and balance. "We have had many Indian candidates who have won in Chinese-majority areas in the past, including P. Patoo and V. David, so race should not be a factor in deciding candidacy," he said.

Meanwhile, the Port Klang state seat under the Klang parliamentary constituency will see a three way fight between Roselinda Abdul Jamil (BN-Umno), Badrul Hisham Abdullah (PKR) and Nazir Mansor (Independent).

Liu will contest the Pandamaran state seat against incumbent Datuk Teh Kim Poo.

Chew vs Puah in Petaling Jaya Utara
PETALING JAYA (Feb 24, 2008): As expected, incumbent Petaling Jaya Utara MP Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, 44, who is also MCA Wanita deputy chief and Women, Family And Community Development Ministry parliamentary secretary, will face the DAP secretary-general’s economic adviser, Tony Pua Kim Wee, 36, for the seat.

Chew, who is seeking re-election for the third time will be helping her two colleagues Victor Gu Chian Peow, 31, and Sheah Kok Fah, 43, first timers for Damansara Utama and Kampung Tunku state seats respectively.

Gu, a former Chinese newscaster, is facing psychiatrist Dr Cheah Wing Yin, 53, while lawyer Sheah is fighting against engineer Lau Weng San, 30.

Chew, Gu and Sheah, arrived with about 300-odd supporters who carried placards and banners, shouting slogans such as "Hidup BN", "BN boleh" and singing "Barisan Kita", to the nomination centre at Puay Chai Chinese primary school at SS2 at 9am.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong and former Kampung Tunku assemblyman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou were also present to lend their support.

In contrast, only some 50 DAP supporters turned up at a playfield, about 100m away from the BN supporters.

Pua’s mother Yean Siew Kuen and wife, lawyer Yow Ting Fong, appeared with his daughter Xin Ying with a bouquet of flowers.

Cheah’s wife Ho Wai Suet and Lau’s girl friend lawyer Tiew Way Keng who is also his campaign manager, were also present.

At about 11.30am, returning officer Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman announced that there were no protests against any candidates.

Walking out from the centre at about 11.45am, Chew said as the only "old" candidate in the constituency, she believed Gu and Sheah stood a good chance as well.

“All of us are university graduates and professional. My chances of winning are good here but I will try my best to win this election ... I have a track record” she said.

Pua on another hand said he is definitely the “underdog” as Chew is an incumbent for two terms and a strong woman from MCA.

“But with the changes of the political landscape and the hard work from our side, we have a chance to make it,” said Pua a rising star in the DAP, who was CEO of a Malaysian e-business consulting firm listed on the Singapore Exchange.

In the 1999 general election, Chew defeated DAP's Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew with a majority of 2,481.

In the 2004 election, she won the seat, again, against Liu, with a bigger majority of 13,043. Chew garnered 32,422 votes while Liu polled 19,379 votes.
PJ Utara a Chinese-majority constituency, has about 76.6% Chinese, 15.2% Malays, 7.4% Indians and 0.8% others.

WCI introduces 'Mak Bedah' to Malaysians
PETALING JAYA (Feb 24, 2008): Injecting a bit of idealism and humour into the general elections, Women's Candidacy Initiative  (WCI) formally introduced "Mak Bedah" to Malaysians today.

With a troupe of 30 supporters wearing T-shirts that read "We Are Shopping For A Real Candidate", Mak Bedah went around the nomination centre for Petaling Jaya Selatan with a shopping cart, asking candidates for their response on WCI's 10-point manifesto.

"If you want to buy a pair of shoes, you're not going to let someone just give you a pair and let them tell you that it fits you. You need to shop for it," explained said WCI representative Shanon Shah on why 'Mak Bedah' went 'shopping.

"Mak Bedah" is WCI's brainchild after Zaitun"Toni" Kassim who was supposed to stand as an independent candidate had to withdraw due to a para-typhoid attack on her liver.

"We're doing this because people remember Toni when she ran in 1999, they remember her as someone with a great sense of humour," said Shanon.

"Politics doesn't have to be boring and humourless. The creative strategy is the way to get people interested in issues."

A hypothetical Malay woman in her 40s, "Mak Bedah" is just like any other Malaysian who is curious about the candidates that will be representing her constituency.

"Mak Bedah is here to create awareness about our manifesto - a citizen's manifesto. We are so used to listening about manifestos from political parties, now we want to make our needs known as voters," he said.

In addition to Mak Bedah's introduction to the public in MBPJ today, WCI also launched a music video titled "Democracy Back" on YouTube.

A parody of the song "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake, the song features Justin Timeforchange" and Mak Bedah (http://youtube.com/watch?v=6R0Wsj06jz8).

Mak Bedah's walkabout today drew a lot of curious stares from shoppers and passersby in the area.

"It was strange, people didn't know what to make of us," said Shanon, adding that they were given a very warm reception by DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

"When we got there, we were immediately welcomed into the opposition's area. But when we tried to go to Barisan Nasional (BN)'s area, the police stopped us.

We told them that we are ordinary citizens and that "Mak Bedah" wants to meet all the candidates, but they wouldn't let us in," he said.

At the nomination centre "Mak Bedah" spoke to DAP's Edward Lee (running for Bukit Gasing state seat) and Keadilan's Hee Loy Sian who is running for PJ Selatan's parliamentary seat.

According to Shanon, Lee promised to help push the NGO's issues despite the fact that he was only a state assemblyman.

"He told us that he was well acquainted with our issues and said that he would try his best to help us. He asked us to send him more details on our points.

"Hee, told 'Mak Bedah that he would only be able to help if elected."

"Mak Bedah" was however unable to talk to BN's Datuk Donald Lim who is defending his PJ Selatan's parliamentary seat, whom she was told was busy.

"Instead, they asked us to go for his press conference tomorrow to ask our questions," Shanon said.