Day 1: On the campaign trail

It is not the constituency he is contesting but Umno President Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became the target of derision in Permatang Pauh this morning.

Among the banners held by opposition PKR and PAS supporters included one which featured four photos of Abdullah dozing off, with the wordings bekerja bersama saya dan tidur bersama saya (work with me, sleep with me).

Another banner called on voters not to be fooled by the iman hadhari. The banner depicted a photo of Abdullah putting his hand on the shoulder of popular Malaysian-born actress and former Bond girl, Michelle Yeoh.

Permatang Pauh will see a re-contest between former National Mosque imam Pirdaus Ismail (Umno) and incumbent Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR).


Did Samy lie about his birthdate?

Is his birthday March 8 or is it June 20?

When MIC president S Samy Vellu filed his nomination papers this morning in his parliamentary constituency of Sungai Siput, it was noted that his birthday was June 20, 1937.

However, only last week Samy Vellu told the media that polling day - March 8 - would be a double celebration as it is also his birthday date.

Challenger D Jeyakumar from PKR was quick to question Samy on this glaring discrepancy during the one-hour objection period.

But the Election Commission official dismissed the objection after obtaining Samy Vellu’s identity card which shows that the MIC boss was right in stating his June 20 birthdate.

So who’s birthday is on March 8?

In a surprising turn of events, two relatives filed nomination papers to contest as independent candidates for seats in the Jelutong constituency. Badrul Zaman, 57, will contest the Jelutong parliamentary seat and the Sungai Pinang state seat. His cousin, Shahul Hameed, 47, will campaign for the Datok Keramat state seat.

Although both independents said this was the first time they have sought public office, Zaman said he was a member of the MIC in his early 20s, a founder of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and was the vice-chairman of a DAP branch in Selangor.

"Of course, after this pencalonan, they will suspend me," he said light-heartedly about his decision to contest as an independent.

The political hopefuls said they are financing their own campaigns and will not hold any ceramahs. Instead, they plan to earn votes by walking from house-to-house and sharing their message through campaign pamphlets.

Despite their confidence, the independents' presence was dwarfed by the hundreds of banner-waving Penangites who had come to cheer on other candidates.

"Anybody who is qualified to be a candidate is free to contest… I wish him luck. He's exercising his right," DAP candidate Jeff Ooi (pix, above left) said when asked if he thought Zaman might split the opposition vote.