By Erda Khursyiah Basir
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Whilst Malaysians were still in mourning following the demise of PAS Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who was respected by both friends and foes, there was suggestion that the Barisan Nasional (BN) need not field a candidate in the Chempaka state by-election in Kelantan.
Political analysts, however, said the BN should only arrive at a decision after thoroughly studying the consequences.
Today, the Election Commission announced that the by-election for the Chempaka state seat, which was held by Nik Aziz, will take place on March 22, while March 10 has been fixed as nomination day.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FIELDING CANDIDATE
Md Shukri Shuib, who is a senior lecturer in political and international studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia, said even if the Umno leadership were to decide against the BN's participation in the Chempaka by-election, the party should consider the consequences of not fielding a candidate there.
"Not taking part in the by-election may lead to a weakening of Umno's image as the main political party in the ruling government," he said.
He felt that the public perception of Umno would be worse if the BN announced its decision not to contest the Chempaka seat even before knowing who PAS was fielding as candidate.
"The people may think that there is no match for Kelantan under PAS rule. And, they may also view Umno as a weak party, bereft of candidates of integrity.
"This is not a question of winning or losing, but the question of maintaining the party's dignity and perception. But if its leaders are expressing such a view (not to contest in the Chempaka by-election), it might hinder Umno's efforts to portray itself as a strong party worthy of ruling Kelantan.
"It will also strengthen the perception that Kelantan is PAS and PAS is Kelantan," he told Bernama.
On Feb 14, Kelantan Umno Liaison Chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed had expressed his personal view that if the BN abstained from contesting, it would make it easier for the federal government, as well as BN and PAS, to carry out post-flood rehabilitation works in Kelantan. Several Umno leaders, include those from the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, have also echoed Mustapha's views.
MARK OF RESPECT
Some quarters have also expressed their opinion that there was no point in the BN contesting the Chempaka state seat owing to the strong voter sentiment towards Nik Aziz, who passed away on Feb 12 from prostrate cancer. He died at his residence in Pulau Melaka, Kota Baharu, Kelantan.
Asso Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, who is a lecturer with Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Social Science Studies, offered a different view, saying that if the BN decided not to contest in Chempaka, it could be construed as a mark of respect for the late Nik Aziz.
"By not contesting in the Chempaka state seat, BN can focus on enhancing its cooperation with the state to deal with the after-effects of the floods. This will, over the long term, help the BN to secure more support," he said.
THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
On the impending by-election in the Permatang Paul Parliamentary seat in Penang, Md Shukri said it was the right of the voters to elect their representative, and that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was free to choose who they wanted to field as candidate.
"If rumours stating that the incumbent's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) daughter Nurul Nuha will be chosen as the candidate are true, it won't be proper because it will be akin to ignoring the integrity of the party's existing leaders, particularly those from PKR Permatang Pauh.
"I also feel that PKR is not willing to sacrifice Permatang Pauh by fielding a PAS candidate there, as there is talk that PAS Deputy President Mohammad Sabu is being considered as a possible candidate," he said.
Md Shukri said he was confident that Permatang Pauh would return to PKR because, as it was generally known, the by-election involved Anwar in his personal capacity.
He added that if the DAP intended to strengthen its dominance in Penang, as well as the opposition bench in the Dewan Rakyat, it should consider fielding a Malay candidate in Permatang Pauh.
"Maybe Dyana Sofea Mohd Daud, who stood as the DAP candidate in the Teluk Intan by-election previously, should be given one more chance as she will appeal to the youth," he said.
Anwar, 67, is set to be disqualified as MP within 14 days from the date the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal against his conviction for sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, and upheld his five-year jail term. The court passed the ruling on Feb 10.
However, if Anwar files a petition for royal pardon within 14 days of the apex court's ruling, his disqualification will only take effect when the petition is disposed of, as provided for under paragraph (c), clause (4) of Article 48 of the Federal Constitution.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Whilst Malaysians were still in mourning following the demise of PAS Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who was respected by both friends and foes, there was suggestion that the Barisan Nasional (BN) need not field a candidate in the Chempaka state by-election in Kelantan.
Political analysts, however, said the BN should only arrive at a decision after thoroughly studying the consequences.
Today, the Election Commission announced that the by-election for the Chempaka state seat, which was held by Nik Aziz, will take place on March 22, while March 10 has been fixed as nomination day.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FIELDING CANDIDATE
Md Shukri Shuib, who is a senior lecturer in political and international studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia, said even if the Umno leadership were to decide against the BN's participation in the Chempaka by-election, the party should consider the consequences of not fielding a candidate there.
"Not taking part in the by-election may lead to a weakening of Umno's image as the main political party in the ruling government," he said.
He felt that the public perception of Umno would be worse if the BN announced its decision not to contest the Chempaka seat even before knowing who PAS was fielding as candidate.
"The people may think that there is no match for Kelantan under PAS rule. And, they may also view Umno as a weak party, bereft of candidates of integrity.
"This is not a question of winning or losing, but the question of maintaining the party's dignity and perception. But if its leaders are expressing such a view (not to contest in the Chempaka by-election), it might hinder Umno's efforts to portray itself as a strong party worthy of ruling Kelantan.
"It will also strengthen the perception that Kelantan is PAS and PAS is Kelantan," he told Bernama.
On Feb 14, Kelantan Umno Liaison Chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed had expressed his personal view that if the BN abstained from contesting, it would make it easier for the federal government, as well as BN and PAS, to carry out post-flood rehabilitation works in Kelantan. Several Umno leaders, include those from the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, have also echoed Mustapha's views.
MARK OF RESPECT
Some quarters have also expressed their opinion that there was no point in the BN contesting the Chempaka state seat owing to the strong voter sentiment towards Nik Aziz, who passed away on Feb 12 from prostrate cancer. He died at his residence in Pulau Melaka, Kota Baharu, Kelantan.
Asso Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, who is a lecturer with Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Social Science Studies, offered a different view, saying that if the BN decided not to contest in Chempaka, it could be construed as a mark of respect for the late Nik Aziz.
"By not contesting in the Chempaka state seat, BN can focus on enhancing its cooperation with the state to deal with the after-effects of the floods. This will, over the long term, help the BN to secure more support," he said.
THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
On the impending by-election in the Permatang Paul Parliamentary seat in Penang, Md Shukri said it was the right of the voters to elect their representative, and that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was free to choose who they wanted to field as candidate.
"If rumours stating that the incumbent's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) daughter Nurul Nuha will be chosen as the candidate are true, it won't be proper because it will be akin to ignoring the integrity of the party's existing leaders, particularly those from PKR Permatang Pauh.
"I also feel that PKR is not willing to sacrifice Permatang Pauh by fielding a PAS candidate there, as there is talk that PAS Deputy President Mohammad Sabu is being considered as a possible candidate," he said.
Md Shukri said he was confident that Permatang Pauh would return to PKR because, as it was generally known, the by-election involved Anwar in his personal capacity.
He added that if the DAP intended to strengthen its dominance in Penang, as well as the opposition bench in the Dewan Rakyat, it should consider fielding a Malay candidate in Permatang Pauh.
"Maybe Dyana Sofea Mohd Daud, who stood as the DAP candidate in the Teluk Intan by-election previously, should be given one more chance as she will appeal to the youth," he said.
Anwar, 67, is set to be disqualified as MP within 14 days from the date the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal against his conviction for sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, and upheld his five-year jail term. The court passed the ruling on Feb 10.
However, if Anwar files a petition for royal pardon within 14 days of the apex court's ruling, his disqualification will only take effect when the petition is disposed of, as provided for under paragraph (c), clause (4) of Article 48 of the Federal Constitution.
-- BERNAMA
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