COMMENT Although it was the 10th by-election in a row for the country, the Hulu Selangor contest, in every sense of the word, was the most exciting. Everyone knew that the outcome would have far reaching consequences on our political parties and its leaders. Umno-BN has also proven a point - that in a by-election, come what may, they would stick to their age-old tradition of giving the seat back to the same component party.
They have also broken new ground by demonstrating that they can still win a Malay-majority constituency by putting an unknown Indian candidate under their banner against a popular and formidable Malay candidate.
Looking back, credit must be given to Umno and BN for their sheer political experience in devising a detailed but focused strategy to cover every issue faced by the different communities and at the same time presenting solutions to the local problems besieging the voters.
Malay support
Even before the Hulu Selangor by-election, Umno had already started a concerted campaign on the ground that the Malay community will lose their rights and privileges by supporting Pakatan Rakyat.
A clear example for this approach is Umno's tacit approval for Perkasa, an organisation founded by political maverick and Kelantan’s independent MP Ibrahim Ali to protect Malay rights and privileges.
This, and the branding of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and the candidate Zaid Ibrahim as traitors may have worked on the minds of a small section of the Malay voters.
By exposing and attacking Zaid’s lifstyle right from day one, Umno-BN caught Pakatan leaders by surprise as they were put on the defensive. This exposure may also have worked on some pro-Islamic voters.
Even though PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat campaigned during the last two days of the by-election in favour of Zaid, the damage was already done.
PKR's decision to field a Kelantan-born candidate in Hulu Selangor was another factor on which Umno-BN was able to capitalise on - that he is not a local.
Although BN candidate P Kamalanathan is not a local as well, the Malay community knew that historically MIC candidates were never chosen based on their locality as in the case of Umno candidates.
When it came to the local Felda settlers, the majority of whom were Malays, even though their plight was overlooked for a long time, the government moved in quickly to pay hefty initial sums to the families. This also worked in favour of BN.
While Pakatan leaders were concentrating on large political gatherings with fiery speeches, the BN component parties were working on smaller groups who were actually voters.
Although such gatherings are important for Pakatan to convey their struggle and stand on various current issues, the crowd however is made up largely of supporters and not voters.
In future elections, Pakatan should identify and focus on problematic areas and smaller groups who are actually voters.
Indian support
BN’s victory in Hulu Selangor cannot be attributed to MIC or its president S Samy vellu. It is Umno which single-handedly carried out the campaign right from choosing the candidate.
The government's master stroke on Indian voters came when they presented a solution to Maika Holdings Bhd through the respected G Gnanalingam, who is seen as a neutral business tycoon who has the means to carry out the corporate restructuring of Maika.
Although many believe that the proposal was more political, to the Indian voters, especially Maika shareholders, it reflected the government’s political will to finally look into their woes to find some amicable solutions.
Other branches of the BN government also came into Hulu Selangor with a helping hand for the Indians.
In Nigel Gardner estate for example, the problems faced by some Indian families with regard to their IC and birth certificates were solved within two or three days and the respective documents were handed to them personally.
In another area, a Tamil school without electricity for ages was given connection by TNB within 24 hours.
MIC leaders, other than its president, also did their best to sway the Indian voters by enticing them with dinners, cultural shows and hand outs.
For most part of the campaign, Samy Vellu was not prominently shown with other Umno and BN leaders and this approach also had an impact on the Indian voters as they were able to directly link themselves with Umno and BN rather than through the services of MIC.
The BN leadership should pressure Samy Vellu to leave the party now, so that in the next two years they could work with the new leadership of MIC in formulating strategies and plans to woo the Indian voters to support BN in the next general election.
Pakatan, on the other hand, must also devise a strategy for the Indians
Although they may have obtained about 50% of the support from Indian voters in Hulu Selangor, the time has come for Pakatan to devise a strategy for the Indian community as they cannot take the community’s support for granted.
Pakatan cannot always think that the Indians voted wholeheartedly for the opposition in the 2008 general election. It was more of protest votes.
In view of this, Pakatan must look at a fresh and new approach. There must be a coordinated and concerted effort to address this issue.
Remember Ijok?
Last but not least, the Hulu Selangor by-election brings back memories of the Ijok by-election in 2007.
In that by-election, PKR candidate Khalid Ibrahim lost to MIC's K Parthiban by 1,850 votes.
The following year, Khalid won the same seat with a 1,920 majority and went on to become Selangor menteri besar.
The Hulu Selangor by-election should serve as a lesson for Pakatan, especially PKR, should it be serious about wanting to form the next federal government.
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