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| Anwar gives a speech during a series of programmes with the people in Kajang yesterday. He will be contesting for the upcoming Kajang by-election. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari |
The
usually tranquil Taman Kajang Baru came alive last night as residents
converged at a field to catch a glimpse of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The
earlier rain and squishy grounds failed to dampen the spirits of an
estimated 350 people who came carrying umbrellas and makeshift mats to
listen to the PKR candidate for the urban mixed seat.
Anwar arrived at about 11pm, triggering a frenzy among media
photographers and the crowd, all of whom were busily taking his
pictures.
Dressed in white shirt, dark grey pants and black sandals, the
opposition leader took to a makeshift stage and over 20 minutes
explained to the mainly middle-aged, multiracial crowd why he decided to
stand in Kajang.
"I want to make Kajang a springboard of national issues, that the
people are facing pressures related to the rising cost of living while
some cronies are living the high life.
"We will focus on issues close to the people's hearts, national issues
such as the rising cost of living in this by-election," he assured the
crowd, many among whom recorded his speech and took his pictures with
their handphones and tablets.
Praising Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for his
prudent management and stand against corruption, Anwar nevertheless
noted there is a need to inject new political and economic strengths
into the state.
"Selangor will remain Pakatan Rakyat's most important fortress and as
such, we need to improve on what we have done so far," he said.
The crowd, although paying rapt attention to Anwar, was somewhat muted
in their responses, but this was expected as the by-election is more
than a month away and the Permatang Pauh MP would want to slowly build
up the campaign momentum.
The Election Commission (EC) announced earlier yesterday that
nominations will be on March 11 while the election will be held on March
23.
"The EC is so good to me, they allowed for such a long campaigning
period. We can't complain because we did asked for it previously.
"Of course I know that we can't campaign now, what I am doing now is
just a series of explanations to the electorate why I am contesting
here," he said.
The consummate politician did not miss a beat even when midway through
his speech, he was handed a piece of paper which he glanced at and
casually announced the registration number of a car which had blocked
the road leading to the field, before continuing with his speech.
He took potshots at private television station TV3, and touched on
current issues such as the raging racial religious tensions as well as
the monopoly of sugar and rice by tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar
Al-Bukhary.
"TV3 spent up to 25 minutes talking about Anwar. Why can't they mention
Rosmah?" he said, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's
wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, which drew laughter from the crowd.
He ended his speech by assuring those present that he would do all he
could for the Kajang people, and was quickly surrounded by the crowd who
were snapping more pictures.
The by-election, the third since the 2013 general election, was
triggered by the resignation of PKR assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh on January
27.
While Pakatan has announced Anwar as its candidate for the seat, Barisan Nasional has yet to announce its candidate.
In the 2013 general election, PKR’s Lee garnered 19,571 votes followed
by Lee Ban Seng of BN with 12,747 votes. Mohamad Ismail of Berjasa
obtained 1,014 votes.
The three independent candidates who contested the seat were Mohd Iwan
Jefrey Abdul Majib (249 votes), Ong Yan Foo (85 votes) and Mohd Khalid
Kassim (83 votes). – February 6, 2014.
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