All 13 Independents confident of victory

Most of the independent candidates trying their electoral luck in the Bukit Selambau state by-election are optimistic that they could follow the footsteps of the previous representative, V Arumugam, who won the constituency as an independent in the last general election.

After successfully submitting their forms - T Chandrarajan, 40, S Moganakumar, 43, R Loganathan, 43, Abdul Rahim Abu, 58, and A Jayagopal, 56, are all confident of securing an upset victory on the April 7 polling day.

Among them, Moganakumar, the personal assistant to former Kedah executive councillor Arumugam, has a personal mission to fulfill – to ensure PKR candidate S Manikumar bite the dust.

Moganakumar, whose electoral symbol is a book, decided to contest Bukit Selambau after failing to secure the PKR ticket.

"My experience in the state government and in-depth knowledge of the constituency should have made me an ideal candidate for PKR.

"Only the PKR top leadership knows why an unknown person like Manikumar was chosen," said Moganakumar, who aims to "steal away the PKR votes”.

He claims that PKR had got a big disadvantage by fielding Manikumar, a stranger from Jitra and an alien to the constituents, and this could work in his favour.

"I could capitalise on the unhappiness among the voters who wanted a local to contest under the PKR ticket," said the father of two sons.

He said he has drawn his own strategy to leave the other candidates behind, especially Manikumar.

The sole Chinese candidate in this by-election Tan Hock Huat is also confident he would do well. A former Gerakan member, he expressed his intention to join the fray early this month.

'Formidable team & enough supporters'

Meanwhile, businessman Loganathan said he is contesting to "serve the people and work for youth development”. Being a local boy, he believes he has an advantage when it comes to wooing the voters.

"I have a formidable team and enough supporters to campaign for me and I believe I have a good chance of winning," said the independent candidate, who will contest under the palm oil symbol.

The father of four said that he had set up at least seven election operation centres across the constituency to boost his campaign.

Chandrarajan, an insurance company manager, is also confident of securing a victory at the expense of the other candidates.

Like the others, the father of three will carry out house-to-house campaign and indoor meet-the-people sessions to woo the voters.

"I will unveil my manifesto and explain to voters what I can do for them if elected," said Chandrarajan, who will use an aeroplane as his symbol.

Meanwhile, former Umno member Abdul Rahim said that all independent candidates in the by-election have a fair chance of winning.

Too many candidates - votes could be split

But he cautioned against having too many cooks spoiling the soup, pointing out that the record number of 13 independent candidates for a by-election would be a spoiler.

"I am afraid the votes could be split as voters would be spoilt for choice," said the candidate, who has been given an alarm clock election symbol.

He gave a firm ‘no’ when asked whether he would join any party if he was elected, and said that he would always remained as an independent and be the voice of the Malay community.

His campaign strategy focuses on the Malay voters and claimed that the Malays in Bukit Selambau were under-represented.

However, he hinted that he would be prepared to withdraw from the contest if there was another leader who can represent the Malay community and raise the community’s issues effectively.

Suspended PKR member Jayagopal is also confident of winning because he says he is a familiar face to Bukit Selambau constituents.

"I have a good grassroots rapport in the constituency and close relationship with Kedah menteri besar (Azizan Abdul Razak).

"I am the best candidate for the voters," said Jayagopal, who will contest under an umbrella symbol.

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