It is going to be ‘local boy’ versus ‘same old, same old’ in the battle for the Hulu Selangor vote.

azlan Barisan Nasional is sharpening its knife just as rival PKR confirmed that former minister Zaid Ibrahim will be the party’s candidate for the April 25 by-election in Hulu Selangor.

The local boy factor will be Zaid’s Achilles’ heel in contrast to the likely BN candidate G Palanivel who has been representing the constituency for two decades.

Zaid hails from Kelantan while four-term parliamentary representative Palanivel - born in Penang - has a residence in Hulu Selangor and has been there long enough to be considered by the residents as one of their own.

khir toyo 181207 Selangor Opposition Leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo ( left ) said PKR’s decision to ‘parachute’ Zaid into Hulu Selangor will give BN an edge over their rival.

“He is not a local boy and he is a newcomer not only in Hulu Selangor but also in their party,” he told Malaysiakini.

“PKR’s choice shows that they do not have any good candidates. That is why they are forced to pick Zaid,” he added.

Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin, asked for comment at the Parliament lobby, said: "It doesn't matter, nothing changes. We have a game plan (and the prime minister) will make the right choice.

 "We have been expecting Zaid to contest, as only a few names were reported (as Pakatan's possible candidates)."

‘Same old, same old’

azlan However, Khir shot down suggestions that BN will use Zaid’s conviction of money politics by the Umno disciplinary board in 2005 as a campaign issue.

“This is no longer an issue but it shows that PKR is not doing what it says as far as promoting transparency and being clean and not corrupted,” he said.

When asked if BN had finalised Palanivel as its candidate, Khir said that there were a few other candidates on the shortlist stressing that the eventual candidate will be a ‘local boy’.

Should BN decide on fielding Palanivel, PKR’s point of attack will be that despite his 17-year track record, Hulu Selangor remains among the most undeveloped constituencies in the country’s most industrialised state.

The constituency, which is about the size of Malacca, borders both Perak and Pahang and is woefully lacking in infrastructure and public amentities.

Meanwhile, MIC information chief P Kamalanathan said that Zaid’s candidacy has increased MIC chances of reclaiming the seat.

"The opposition is fielding Kelantan-born Zaid, instead of a locally-born candidate because they would be concentrating on national issues. Our candidate is our strength. We want our candidate to be accepted locally as well as nationwide.

He argued that Zaid would soon forget about Hulu Selangor should he emerge victorious in the battle.

“Our candidate will sink and swim with the people of Hulu Selangor whereas Zaid, if he wins, will go back to his home and may never come back."