The pace of the Indera Kayangan by-election campaign is heating up with just four days left to polling on Saturday. Both Barisan Nasional and Barisan Alternatif have launched aggressive campaigns via posters, ceramah and other means.

Both parties are championing the Chinese education cause to woo Chinese voters, believed to be crucial for victory in this campaign.

The MCA, which is fielding retired school head Oui Ah Lan, is distributing thousands of VCDs to explain its policies to the Chinese voters, who comprise about half of the 8,000-strong local electorate.

The VCD entitled 'The Leader of the Malaysian Chinese Community : Contributions of MCA' is in Mandarin. It features Deputy Education Minister Hon Choon Kim and MCA Wanita chief Ng Yen Yen.

In a segment sub-titled 'Latest developments in Chinese education', Hon, who is an MCA central committee member, said the party has made various efforts to promote Chinese education in Malaysia.

He said the government had trained about 3,000 Chinese teachers over the past three years. "We have also increased the allowances of pupil's own language teachers from RM20 and RM25 to RM50 and RM60 respectively," Hon says in the VCD.

Promoting Chinese education

In an attempt to further boost Chinese support for the party, he said that the government had also successfully relocated six Chinese schools to areas with more space, better road access and public transportation.

He confirmed that the USJ Chinese primary school in Subang Jaya would be converted into a Vision school in about two months.

Refuting allegations that the party had lagged in its duty to enhance Chinese education in the country, Hon said the government had recently approved university status for MCA's Tunku Abdul Rahman college.

"At this university we do not practise any quota system. We will also accept students from independent (Dong Jiao Zong) schools," said Hon.

Other than ceramah and VCDs, MCA has also distributed pamphlets refuting claims by the DAP-backed Save Our School committee of SJK (C) Damansara. The SOS committee has joined in the by-election campaign to air its woes and claims that the MCA is not doing enough to support Chinese education.

In a colourful six-page flyer, MCA said it had worked hard to ensure that the new SJK(C) Damansara school in Tropicana (Damansara) was completed in eight months.

"The school was not closed but relocated to a bigger premises," it said.

Open debate challenge

The explanation has not pacified the SOS committee which released a statement in Indera Kayangan today challenging Hon and Petaling Jaya Selatan member of parliament Chew Mei Fun to an open debate on the issue.

"MCA leaders are telling a lot of lies about the Damansara school. Let's openly debate and clarify the issues to the voters so that we will not be confused," said the statement.

Despite a directive last year from the Education ministry for the 1,400 students of the 70-year old school to move to a nearby school temporarily until the new school in Tropicana was ready, the parents of some 60 students were adamant in protesting the move.

At the opening of the school session this year at the new school, the 60 students were still continuing their studies, aided by private teachers, in air-conditioned containers near the old school.

Wooing female voters

Meanwhile, in the same MCA VCD, Ng promoted the party's contribution to women's development while lambasting PAS' 'discriminatory' treatment towards women.

Ng, who is also an MCA central committee member, criticised Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat for saying that "pretty women should stay at home and not work".

"Under Islamic extremism, women are nothing," said Ng, adding that under Islamic law, a woman who gets pregnant after being raped would be imprisoned unless she could find witnesses — four men of good reputation — to prove that she was not raped.

"But if women can find such witnesses, then rape will not happen," Ng, who is deputy culture, arts and tourism minister, said in her segment themed 'BN government's recognition of Chinese Women".

To discredit PAS further, Ng said Malaysia, unlike other countries, enjoys religious freedom as the Chinese are able to celebrate Chinese New Year and other cultural festivities.

In order to lure women voters, Ng added that MCA had been instrumental in pressuring the government to amend laws which discriminate against women such as laws on property rights and child guardianship.

Observers believe MCA's campaign strategy may sway votes in favour of its candidate, 58-year-old Oui. The retired Chinese school head may attract many female votes as half of the Indera Kayangan electorate are women.

Her opposite sex opponent in the by-election on Saturday is Keadilan's Khoo Yang Chong, 60, a retired school teacher.

The seat fell vacant last month after the death of BN state assemblyman Khor Liang Tee. MCA has held the seat for four terms.