Listless campaign revives with Nik Aziz’s arrival

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PORT DICKSON, Oct 9 — The listless PAS campaign for the Bagan Pinang by-election shifted into higher gear last night with the arrival of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to attract support, after days of playing catch-up with rival Barisan Nasional.

The PAS spiritual adviser addressed two DAP-organised rallies in the state constituency — both of which were well attended — as party supporters from neighbouring states began flocking this coastal town to campaign with fence-sitters.

The Umno bastion is proving hard to crack even for PAS as its vaunted grassroots network is not that established in Negri Sembilan, despite growing popularity among ex-servicemen who have settled in the town that houses a major army camp. Most analysts agree the lack of a strong PAS network here could lead to Pakatan Rakyat's first loss after a 100 per cent win record in seven by-elections in the peninsula since Election 2008.

At a dinner with the Chinese community near here, Nik Aziz shared the stage with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng where he spoke against what he called Umno's divisive politics.

“I came here today not as a Malay, but as a Muslim bringing the message of peace,” said the soft spoken Nik Aziz to the multi-racial crowd.

“We may look different but we all came from the same man,” said the religious scholar.

Just before midnight, he arrived at the DAP's main operation centre where he made passionate appeal to thousands of people who attended the rally to vote for PAS.

The Kelantan mentri besar ended his speech with a long prayer in Arabic asking for God's help to ensure PAS's victory this weekend.

Earlier yesterday, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) campaign also received another boost when dozens of the coalition's elected representatives joined the party machinery making their rounds at all PAS's operation centres across the constituency.

The arrival of Nik Aziz in Bagan Pinang was part of PAS's strategy to begin their show of strength ahead of polling this Sunday.

At every by-election it is customary for Nik Aziz to make a special written appeal to voters to back the party.

But the Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery was also fully prepared this time to welcome the highly-respected PAS leader.

Billboards showing the picture of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak visiting Nik Aziz in hospital began making its appearance yesterday to replace billboards put up earlier in the campaign accusing PAS of rejecting development.

This latest billboard advertisement also carries the message by Prophet Mohamad which promotes brotherhood in Islam.