A cursory look at the two frontrunners in the Bukit Gantang by-election would remind one of the biblical tale of David versus Goliath.

bukit gantang by election bn candidate ismail walkabout 310309 05 A relatively unknown Barisan Nasional candidate taking on a mighty PAS leader, who has since become a household name after being unceremoniously booted out as menteri besar.

Then again, it was David who beat the odds and slumped the giant.

So while the pundits are placing their wager on PAS' Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, there is a possibility that BN's Ismail Saffian - who towers above six feet himself - might slingshot to victory.

Ismail, 49, has an important edge over his 52-year-old Kampar-born adversary. The former is a local who knows the area like the back of his palm.

Born and raised in Kampung Kubu, Changkat Jering, before starting his career in the civil service as a teacher in 1984, Ismail joined the Bukit Gantang Umno division in the same year.

bukit gantang by election bn candidate ismail walkabout 310309 02 Since then, he has been the elections director for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency twice, in 2004 and 2008, and knows the electoral terrain well and shares a close rapport with his counterparts in the BN coalition.

"I was born here. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances here. I think that is my advantage," he said when asked if he considered himself the underdog during the April 7 by-election.

Ismail was speaking to reporters while visiting Temerloh after his walkabout session in a Chinese new village consisting primarily of farmers.

Islamic state raised again

During his visit, Ismail trudged from doorstep to doorstep with a huge grin but his repertoire was limited to sticking badges and repeating ‘please support me’, ‘please vote for me’ and ‘please help me’.

bukit gantang by election bn candidate ismail walkabout 310309 04 He preferred to leave the talking to his large posse of MCA party workers accompanying him, including a Chinese man who spoke fluent Tamil to the handful of Indian villagers.

This 'touch-and-go' tactic however failed to satisfy some demanding voters, who later told Malaysiakini that they were in the dark as to what the BN candidate stood for.

Two flyers distributed during his walkabout session revealed little about his plans. One consisted of his biodata, while the other was a collage of old newspaper clippings on PAS' intention to create an Islamic state.

The Islamic state agenda is the traditional 'spook factor' which BN employs on non-Malay voters when it comes to PAS.

Quizzed on what he would do for the non-Malay community if elected, Ismail stuck to BN's time-tested 'troubleshooter' role.

"If I am given the chance to be their elected representatives, I will help them and solve their problems. I represent the governing party and have a lot of opportunities to help them," he said.

Confident of victory

Despite the odds being stacked against him, Ismail is confident of staging an upset. "If you look in 2004, they supported BN. Only in 2008, they supported Pakatan (Rakyat)."

bukit gantang by election bn candidate ismail walkabout 310309 03 "I think they have realised that they've gotten nothing in return for supporting Pakatan. I think this time they will return to BN's fold," he said.

Ismail is a father of five and the former Bukit Gantang Umno division secretary. Last year, he was defeated in his bid for the division deputy chief post.

Currently, he is serving as the Human Resources and Management Services director of National Solid Waste Management and Public Cleaning Corporation.

Ismail and Mohd Nizar will also be facing independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris.