After an intense campaigning for more than two weeks, where BN Chariman PM Dato’ Seri Mohd, Najib Tun Razak made appearances twice in his ultra busy schedule running the nation and trips abroad Pakatan Rakyat bigwigs such as PAS Spiritual Leader Nik Aziz dan DAP Emperor-for-life Lim Kit Siang  jumping onto the campaign bandwagon, things are very dicey for both side. There is no clear indication who will come out as victors representing parliamentary constituency of Hulu Selangor, unlike the immediate PRK DUN Bagan Pinang.

During the 8 March 2008 12th General Elections, P094 Hulu Selangor voted for PKR’s Dato’ Dr. Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who was the former Selangor State Government Exco and UMNO Hulu Langat Division Chief over BN’s Dato’ G. Palanivel, who was a former Deputy Minister and current MIC Deputy President by a slim majority of 198 votes. Out of 63, 593 registered voters, only 75.24% turned out to vote.The campaign trail became interesting when so many PKR leaders and members ‘jumped out’ of the multiracial party citing the same reasons previously stated by earlier disgruntled and ‘awakened’ leaders. To add more into the interesting node, Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad lent a hand in BN’s campaign. This is part of BN’s strategy along PM Dato’ Seri Najib’s ’1 Malaysia’ of ‘rakyat’s first’. PKR has been proven to do dirty tactics, like expected in this campaign.

So far, reports from various angles and research only calculated that BN has a 55:45 chance lead over PKR.  As of print time, party workers of both sides are busy ensuring voter turn out is good. The Police are working extra hard to ensure the voting process is smooth, like making sure traffic flow is good and no untoward incidences will happen that will hinder voters to come out and exercise the constitutional rights. If 80% of the 65,000 voters turn up to vote and spolit votes is minimal, then at 55% chance BN’s P Kamalanathan  should be getting a comfortable 4,000 majority. There is between 9-11% ‘fence sitters’, who are thought to be the deciding factor in this really tight race. This accounts for 6,000-7,000 votes where the campaign from both camps were intensified on.

The Oppositions especially PKR and some militant PAS Youths might resort to uncanny dirty tactics in their deperate attempt to win, especially after the calculations towards the second half of the day. They are known to start a scruffle, especially in the intense exchange of harsh words probably outside polling centres. This will definitely scare of voters. Another usual tactic is to clog up the traffic and frustrate process to ferry voters to the polling centres. This move is strategic for the P094 by-elections since the Hulu Selangor polling centres are centred along the Kuala Lumpur-Tanjung Malim trunk road. The same tactics were first seen in the June 2000 Telok Kemang parlimentary by-elections. BN’s success in any by-elections is usually accredited to high voter turn out.

The pressure is seriously mountimg against defacto PR leader Partyless-Opposition-Leader Amwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim. the loss of P094 will further deepen the spiralling conundrum that he is facing with his PKR party, the ‘unholy-marriage-of-(in)convenience’ Pakatan Rakyat inter party differences and ‘squabbles’ and his own personal problems: The upcoming trial for sodomy and the Parliamentary select committee for wrongful allegations against PM Dato’ Seri Najib in the Dewan Rakyat.

It looks like it will be a photo finish although some optimistically predicted a 3,000 majority in favour of likeable and approachable MIC Information Chief P. Kamalanathan, especially after PM Dato’ Seri Najib shared a finale platform last night at Bukit Beruntung with Tun Dr. Mahathir in front of 15,000 people. Results would be expected by 900pm.

*Updated 1200 noon

As of 1100am, 38 % voter turn out was recorded. BN is intensifying efforts to achieve at least 80% turn out to ensure victory.

*Updated 300pm

As of 200pm, 63% voter turn out was recorded. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yasin is urging voters to come out before the daily evening rain started to pour and hinders tthe polling process. Unconfirmed reports have started to come in via phone calls that Damansara Utama DAP ADUN Dr Cheah Wing Yin has succumbed to death, from a car accident he did not recover from. We at BigDogDotCom are still waiting for the confirmation of this report. If the report is true, then there will be a first by-election since the 12GE in the Peninsular Malaysia involving a DAP candidate, which should be interesting. DUN Damansara Utama is 83% Chinese majority urban population.

*Updated 400pm

The Oppositions’ desperation is now reflected in the ‘militant’ approach which they are known for being deployed. Police arrested six of them outside a polling station, in a Malay majority area.

The Star reports:

Published: Sunday April 25, 2010 MYT 3:33:00 PM

Cops arrest 6 ‘outsiders’ for disrupting peace at polling centres

By SIRA HABIBU

KUALA KUBU BARU: Police have arrested six ‘outsiders’ for disrupting the peace riot outside polling stations in Hulu Selangor.

Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said five of them were arrested in Kampung Sungai Buaya.

“They were throwing bottles, and one man even punched someone, injuring his forehead.

“Another was arrested elswhere at about noon,” he told a press conference on Sunday.

Khalid said all those arrested were in their 20s, and none of them were local residents.

He also said that a Malaysiakini reporter would be called in for questioning for making a false report that caused unnecessary alarm and fear.

“The alternative media’s report that 25 people were arrested for carrying dangerous weapons is untrue.

“We want to take action against the media as such reports cause unnecessary fear and alarm among the voters.

“We are calling in the reporter for questioning. We want to know who fed the false information,” he said.

He said the media should verify all information with the police.

“We are here 24 hours. Check with us to verify the information,” he said.

DCP Khalid also guaranteed the safety of the voters.

“The police have taken all measures to secure safety and security,” he said, adding that, so far, no voters had lodged any complaint.

He said that up to noon Sunday, police had arrested 32 people for various offences.

“We have, so far, received 195 reports, and we are investigating 35 cases,” he said.

IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who was also in the constituency, said the situation in Hulu Selangor was under control.

“Balloting process in the centres are running smoothly,” he said, adding supporters were civilised at the places he visited on Sunday morning.