Will Chempaka By-Election Be A Walkover For PAS?

TUESDAY, 6 MARCH 2015
CHEMPAKA
Will Chempaka By-Election Be
A Walkover For PAS?
By Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -With arch political rival Barisan
Nasional (BN) out of the picture,
the general consensus is that
the Chempaka state seat byelection on March 22 will be a
walk in the park for PAS. But
PAS is not likely to retain the
seat, which fell vacant following
the death of Spiritual Leader
Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat
last month, without putting up a
fight because there is talk that
it may face some opposition
from a couple of independent
candidates, who have indicated
their desire to contest the seat.
The BN had earlier announced
that it would sit out the Chempaka
by-election as it wanted to focus
on its post-flood rehabilitation
works in Kelantan, as well as
provide aid to flood victims.
Political analysts said while
Aziz,” he said. In the past, the
participation of independent
candidates
in
various
constituencies nationwide had
somewhat helped to alter the
political landscape when some
INDEPENDENTS TO FACE
of them succeeded in emerging
TOUGH FIGHT
Asso Prof Mohamed Fadzil as elected representatives.
Che Din, who is Deputy ViceChancellor (Student Affairs During the 2004 general
for
instance,
and Alumni) at the National election,
Defence University of Malaysia, independent candidate Chong
said an election would be Hon Min won the Sandakan
deemed unexciting in the Parliamentary seat in Sabah
absence of a contest. “But the after he defeated BN’s Lau Ngan
truth is, it is quite difficult for Siew and Pertubuhan Pasok
an independent candidate to Momogun Bersatu’s Liew Teck
provide stiff competition, more Khen @ Liaw Teck King with
so in a constituency which is a majority of 1,330 votes. The
known to be a certain political 2006 Sarawak state election
party’s fortress. “(In the case saw independent Gabriel
of the Chempaka by-election) I Adit ak Demong beating BN’s
Alexander ak Vincent and Parti
feel the electorate will give
their votes to PAS as the Kebangsaan Sarawak’s Richard
seat belonged to Nik Abdul ak Lias to win the Ngemah seat
the presence of independent
candidates would “liven” up the
election atmosphere, they may
only serve to split the votes.
with a majority of 549 votes.
During the 2011 Sarawak state
election, George Ak Lagong,
who stood as an independent
candidate in the Pelagus seat,
won with a 2,837-vote majority
after defeating BN’s Stanley
Nyitar @ Unja ak Malang and
Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR)
Edward Sumbang ak Asun.
Peninsular Malaysia itself has
yet to see any independent
candidate being elected based
on their personal capacity but
there have been instances of
victory among independents
who contested on the platforms
of mainstream parties like BN,
PAS and PKR.
ARE INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATES VIEWED
LOWLY?
How does PAS feel about the
possibility of facing independent
candidates in the Chempaka
by-election? Two party VicePresidents, Salahuddin Ayub
and Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan
Man, shared the view that in a
democracy, everyone has the
right to contest. Salahuddin said
PAS was getting ready to face
any challenge for the Chempaka
seat.
“Although BN is not contesting,
will it be ‘sponsoring’ any
independent candidate to stand
on its behalf? This is the question
being asked now. Whatever
it is, there’s nothing wrong
in independent candidates
contesting and we’re not all that
concerned about it,” Salahuddin Chempaka by-election, are
they expected to provide stiff
told Bernama.
competition to PAS? Che
Tuan Ibrahim said PAS Hamdan Che Mohd Razali, a
had already expected the political science lecturer at
participation of independent Universiti Teknologi MARA
candidates even though the BN (UiTM) Dungun, Terengganu,
has announced it was staying believed that the presence of
out of Chempaka. Pointing out independent candidates usually
that PAS would not take any did not have a significant impact
challenge from independents in any election, let alone the
lightly, he said it was putting Chempaka by-election.
the final touches to its election
machinery and hoped that the “(In the Chempaka by-election) if
you have people voting for them
party would retain the seat.
(independents), then they are
“The involvement of independent probably BN supporters who are
candidates was something we upset that their party (UMNO) is
had expected and I hear that not contesting there,” he added.
one or maybe two people are The Election Commission has
interested in contesting the fixed the Chempaka by-election
seat. PAS is making all the for March 22, while nomination
necessary preparations to face day is on March 10.
the by-election and on March 8,
we will announce the name of The seat fell vacant after Nik
our candidate,” he told Bernama. Abdul Aziz died of prostrate
cancer on Feb 12. During the
On Feb 26, Kelab Bumi 13th general election, the late
Rahmat Kelantan President Spiritual Leader defeated BN’s
Fadzillah Hussin, 55, reportedly Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak
expressed her desire to stand with a majority of 6,500 votes.
as an independent candidate
in the Chempaka by-election. -- BERNAMA
Fadzillah, who is also President
of Pertubuhan Keturunan
Paduka Raja Cik Siti Wan
Kembang Malaysia, had pledged
to focus on uniting the Malays
in the constituency, as well as
state-wide.
IMPACT OF INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATES
In the event independent
candidates
contest
the