By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia TodayKUALA KUBU BARU: The clock is ticking and the heat is on for P Kamalanathan and Zaid Ibrahim. With only two days more before polling stations open, both candidates have quickened the pace of their aggressive schedules to meet and greet as many more voters throughout Hulu Selangor.
From the very start, it was clear that the candidates' individual styles were like chalk and cheese. While Kamalanathan indulged in leisurely chats with the voters on their daily struggles, Zaid was more aloof and addressed the national dimension of local issues.
With election day looming ahead, FMT visited each candidate's walk-about yesterday to observe if the rising temperature had crept under their skin.
Losing his cool?
As soon as he arrived in Kampung Baru Kalumpang, Kamalanathan hit the ground running. Literally. Speed-walking from door to door, he briefly chatted with voters and asked for their support come Sunday. He even approached the village's PKR center to greet the locals sitting outside which promptly unleashed a torrent of 'Reformasi' shouts from party volunteers there.
Kamalanathan was already behind schedule but graciously obliged requests for a photo session and even spared a few minutes clowning around with the locals. Yet when an elderly gentleman wanted to speak to him about his welfare needs, Kamalanathan was heard to say, “Sorry I don't have the time.”
He also sternly brushed off a National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) volunteer who was seeking his support for a 90-day maternity leave. The volunteers told FMT that they would follow him for the rest of the day until he took the time to hear them out. This was a far cry from two days ago when Kamalanathan spent almost half an hour listening to a family's woes in Kerling and unhurriedly discussing local issues with one of the village leaders.
The usually affable man was also unusually reticent towards the media. He declined to answer any questions and instead directed the media to his blog which he said had all the answers. This about turn is assumed to be linked to the recent allegations that his educational qualifications are fake.
Playing it too cool?
Zaid, on the other hand, is still his usual self. Unflappable and vague. His noon walk-about was scheduled at a small eatery in Kuala Kubu Bharu. He distributed handshakes and some light ribbing to the lunchtime crowd and gamely posed with an ikan bakar stall owner.
Zaid also appeared to have shed his initial reservations and was more responsive towards the crowd's enthusiasm at meeting him. Despite the controversy over his drinking issue and allegations of gambling, his feathers remained unruffled.
“Muslims are sensible people,” he told the journalists there. “Only the Umno leaders lack sensibility. Even some of the Umno fellows have sense which is why they will vote for me.” However, Zaid remained frustratingly vague on his agenda for the marginalised communities in Hulu Selangor, particularly the Indians. When asked about his plans for the Indian community, all he said was that it was time the Indians put their trust in someone else who wouldn't make empty promises.
“If the Indians still choose to believe in BN then I feel sorry for them,” he said. “I am not the prime minister and I cannot make the promises that he makes. But I will promise to take care of the Indian community as best I can.”
The next 48-hours are a make or break for both candidates and they will have to pull out their aces soon if they haven't already. But one thing is already clear. Both need to pay more attention to how they walk their talk if they want the 'X' to fall on their side of the ring.
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