Will the mud stick on Zaid?

analysis Three days into a blistering campaign in the Hulu Selangor by-election, PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim has been the target of a barrage of allegations involving the consumption of alcohol and for dabbling in gambling.

Despite this, Zaid is keeping his cool and has pledged that he would not be distracted by the attacks nor will he take action against those who are slandering him.

But will the smear campaign affect the crucial 53 percent of the Malay electorate in Hulu Selangor? After all, both drinking and gambling are considered sinful by the Muslim community.

What is interesting to note is that mainstream Malay-language newspapers have given the allegations a miss today although they have played up the issues yesterday.

For former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, such a smear campaign is fair and square in elections as he too had been the subject of such attacks.

DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, however, lamented that the level of character assassination in this by-election campaign was unprecedented.

"It is counterproductive and it may backfire on BN. For Pakatan, we would refrain from being involved in such low-level acts," he said.

Even Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and BN candidate P Kamalanathan have called for an end for such tactics .

Khairy has called for the removal of offensive campaign billboards while Kamalanathan has indicated he wants a clean campaign .

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar and Hulu Selangor PKR election director Khalid Ibrahim feels that the below the belt character attacks would bring severe repercussions for BN.

Unfazed, Zaid has confronted the accusations head-on. The wealthy lawyer said he was no longer a drinker and while he had owned a race horse once, he did not indulge in betting.

Locals not influenced

But what do the residents of Hulu Selangor think?

Locals, when interviewed by Malaysiakini , felt the issue was a personal matter but many did not want to divulge whether it would influence their vote.

Nor Mohamad Badaruddin, who is also Hulu Bernam Umno branch chief, conceded that such issues should not have been raised in an election campaign.

"The campaign should be focused on developing the area. We do not want ‘Maggi Mee’ (instant) projects where after two years of Selangor being run by the opposition, there are still no development programmes.

"Even the Ar Rahman Hulu Bernam mosque is the result of the local community’s effort as the state did not do anything," he said.

Another resident, Mohd Salleh Munir, 43, a contractor, said he was more interested in whether a candidate would help bring benefits for the people.

Trader Mohd Alwai Abdullah, 50, however, said the liquor issue would have an impact on Malay voters which may result in the BN candidate winning this Sunday.

Meanwhile, Hulu Bernam PAS leader Suroso Radyo said despite the allegations hovering over Zaid, the Islamic party would continue to give its full support to the Pakatan Rakyat candidate.

"It is not a problem as we abide by the party (PAS) directive. Even Sayidina Umar (the Second Caliph) had drunk liquor before. People change, and we believe Zaid will, and has, changed.

"There are 2,000 PAS members in Hulu Selangor and we will support Zaid," he said.

Go on the offensive

There also appears to have been a change in campaign tactics among the PKR leaders.

Party national elections director Fuziah Salleh has instructed all opposition leaders, including Zaid, to stop answering allegations raised by BN.

"We have to go from the defensive to the offensive and focus on our strengths instead of our weaknesses," the Kuantan MP ( right ) said.

Dr Noor Sulastry Yurni, a researcher with Universiti Malaya's Centre for Democracy and Elections, felt the voters in Hulu Selangor, including the Orang Asli community, have a rather deep political awareness.

"They follow all developments within PKR and BN. They emphasise development for their constituency and want a leader who is close to the people," she said, adding this seems to be the main criteria the voters seek in their elected representative.

However, the political analyst agreed the smear campaign has somehow managed to mar Zaid’s image.