It is just the first day after nominations at Bukit Selambau but both heavyweights from Pakatan Rakyat and BN have begun canvassing for votes bright and early.

bukit selambau s ganesan jogging campaign 300309 02 BN's aspirant S Ganesan was distributing glossy campaign pamphlets as early as 7am while he was jogging around his neighbourhood in the Cinta Sayang Golf Resort where he has lived for the past 11 years.

Accompanied by some of his friends, Ganesan passed around pamphlets containing details of his education and activities as well as his experience in politics.

Ganesan, who had completed his primary and secondary school education in Sungai Petani, gained his first degree in economics from Universiti Malaya in 1985.

Five years later, he went off to Anglia College in London to read law and attained the certificate to practice locally in 1992 at UM.

RM350,000 for dilapidated Tamil school

The pamphlets also carried his past and present political affiliations including his participation in state-level committees on social welfare and economics.

Passing the pamphlets to his neighbours, Ganesan asked them to vote for him.

bukit selambau by election s ganesan muhyiddin yassin tamil school visit 300309 04 After the jog, Ganesan accompanied Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin to a Tamil-medium school in Sungai Tukang where Muhyiddin contributed RM350,000 to the school.

The money had been allocated in the stimulus package.

Muhyiddin told the media that the money reflected BN's commitment to help people regardless of their race.

He added that he felt sorry for the children at the school which is currently in a deplorable state.

Muhyiddin admits BN neglected the Indians

Muhyiddin conceded that the government had focused on a "certain race" for the past 20 years and he was aware as to why the Indians felt marginalised under BN's administration.

Nevertheless, he guaranteed that under the administration of incoming premier Najib Abdul Razak, this will no longer be the case and everyone will receive equal treatment.

“And this is not a rhetoric statement,” said Muhyiddin.

Meanwhile, Pakatan's S Manikumar began his operation at the Taman Ria Jaya market, shaking hands and passing A4-sized brochures condemning the BN government.

bukit selambau by election pkr candidate s manikumar campaign 300309 02 Manikumar was accompanied by PKR information chief Tian Chua and former MCA central committee member Tan Yee Kew, who joined PKR last year.

The team was well-received at the market which has a large population of Chinese traders as well as Chinese restaurants.

The brochures highlight statements by former Bukit Bendera Umno chief, Ahmad Ismail, who referred to the Chinese community in Malaysia as "squatters".

Five extreme acts by BN & Umno

At the back of the brochure there were claims of five extremist acts by BN and Umno.

bukit selambau by election state seat candidates 290309 It cited the comment by Mukhriz Mahathir in Parliament on the implementation of a single education system and the abolition of other language-medium schools.

Arrest of the five Hindu Rights Action Force activists and Chinese-language newspaper Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng under the Internal Security Act (ISA), were also mentioned in the flyer.

Meanwhile, 40-year-old trader A Anita who sells breakfast items at the market daily told Malaysiakini , that Manikumar is an “okay” choice.

She said this was because he was young and she believed that he could bring more development to Sungai Petani.

Seventy-year-old Teoh Chai Hin, who has been selling blankets and beddings at the market for the past five years said: “It doesn't matter who the (opposition) candidate is, if he is from Pakatan we will vote for him.”

Later speaking to several reporters, Manikumar said he aims to carry out the mandate given to him by Pakatan chief Anwar Ibrahim well.

Manikumar, who is a supply chain coordinator and consultant for a Thai-based company, also used to lecture part-time at his alma-mater Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

He added that his aim was to bring development to all the people, regardless of their racial backgrounds.

“We have to change the mindset that only a Malay can represent the Malays, a Chinese can only represent the Chinese and an Indian can only represent the Indians... we are all Malaysians and I believe I can provide fulfilment to all parties,” he said.