BN Leaders Upbeat On Tenang Victory

LABIS, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are upbeat the coalition front will retain the Tenang state seat with a higher majority, as initial findings indicate voters to be supportive of the BN candidate.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the party election machinery would try to meet as many voters as possible although the voter mood trend towards BN was positive.

"I have been here for sometime. I'm not alien to this place. I see the chances of wining are good. The mood is also good, especially in the past one year, following the announcement of the government transformation plan," he told reporters at the nomination centre.

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel said MIC would deliver as many Indian votes as possible, capitalising on 1,410 MIC members in the Labis area.

"The Indian mood towards BN in the area is good. We are close to getting back the level of support which we enjoyed before. There have been a lot of allocations for temples here by the MB (menteri besar)," he said.

People's Progressive Party president Datuk M. Kayveas said BN was well-prepared for this by-election, with its election machinery more coordinated and focused.

"I believe we can achieve a healthy result in this by-election," he said.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu senior vice-president Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was also confident that BN could retain the Tenang seat as voters were more motivated by the 1Malaysia spirit.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said there were several factors which he believed, would see the people supporting the BN in the by-election.

Among them were support for the 1Malaysia concept, government transformation plan and choice of candidate, he said.

Meanwhile, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said his survey revealed a good chance for victory but the election machinery needed a boost to win the hearts of the public.

"We need to pay more house-to-house visits as ceramahs are not that effective. Although the opposition preaches on its manifesto, it is nothing we cannot handle," he said.

Sabah United Party deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili believed the straight fight between BN and PAS would work into BN advantage, especially among the non-bumiputera voters.

"The non-Malay has good reason to vote for BN. You ask me, the advantage is not on the candidate but on the BN itself. Since last year, BN leadership has come out with various trasnformation plan either on government or party level," he said.