Batu Talam By-election - Umno's Goliath vs Independent Sacrificial Lamb.

The Batu Talam state by-election is a straight fight between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and an independent, a 21-year-old young businessman who turns 22 on Monday.

BN's 47-year-old Abdul Aziz Kiram is facing Ng Chee Pang, the son of a former Pahang DAP leader.

Returning Officer Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar made the announcement at 11.15am after the objection period ended at 11am. The rural seat under the Raub parliamentary constituency fell vacant following the death of the incumbent BN assemblyman Datuk Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan, 66, on Dec 27. A total of 10,525 voters, majority of whom are Malays, are eligible to vote in the Jan 28 polls.

In its bid to retain the Umno stronghold seat, the BN is fielding a local, the Raub Umno division secretary Abdul Aziz. In a show of solid support, about 10,000 BN supporters accompanied him to the nomination centre at the Raub district office. The supporters, led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, walked in a two-kilometre procession through Raub town to the nomination centre.

In a stark contrast, only three people followed Ng to the nomination centre. They are his father, Ng Kwi Ling, a proposer and seconder.

Meanwhile, the situation outside the district office turned noisy when Abdul Kadir confirmed Abdul Aziz's candidacy for the Malay-majority seat. In his announcement, Abdul Kadir said he received one objection against Ng during the objection period. However, it was overruled.

Ng, who handed his nomination paper at 9.05am, was proposed by Lee Tong Heng, while Wan Siew Chang seconded.

Mustafa Kamal Abdul Hamid signed as proposer and Mohd Razali Hamzah inked as seconder to Abdul Aziz who submitted his nomination paper at 9.23am.

In the 2004 general election, Tengku Paris defeated Pas' Dr Mohamed Nilam Abdul Manaf by a comfortable 2,761-vote majority.

Also present to provide moral support were MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Velly, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, Wanita Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Pas and Parti Keadilan Rakyat had said they were boycotting the by-election in protest against the discrepancies in the election laws which the Election Commission had failed to rectify. The DAP had said it would stay away from the polls. (Bernama)

***** Is this 'independent' chap going to be the young David who slew Goliath or is he the sacrificial lamb being led either of his own volition or paid by Goliath's benefactors, to the altar of expediency and 'free' elections? Democracy in action, Malaysian style - truly laughable, if it wasn't so expensive an exercise. Sham election or shame election?

Image - Source
BN Sandiwara:
1) Presence Of Independent Candidate An Opposition Ploy - Najib
2) MCA, MIC Confident Of Garnering Non-Malay Votes For BN
UPDATE: I Like To Contest, Says Independent Candidate