With most analyst predicting a photo finish for the Hulu Selangor by-election, a mad scramble to convince fence-sitters, particularly Malay voters, in the final lap of the campaign.

nik aziz angry 170609 Like many other by-elections before this, top guns from both sides of the political divide will be making their presence felt, but the most widely talked about vote canvasser is PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat ( left ).

He is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim today before visiting at least two Barisan Nasional strongholds in a bid to tip the scales towards Pakatan Rakyat's.

Nik Aziz is expected to declare PAS' stance on what BN labelled as Zaid's ‘liberal’ views, before going on the charm offensive in trying to convince the largely conservative Malay electorate, especially in Assam Kumbang, Rasa and Batang Kali, that the former law minister is their best choice come Sunday.

The senior PAS man is seen as the ace in the hole for Pakatan in ‘cleansing’ Zaid's image after the BN's kaki botol (alcoholic) and kaki judi (gambler) smear campaigns against the PKR candidate, which had shown some effect with Muslim voters.

Felda flashpoint

While Nik Aziz tries to soothe his way through the hearts and minds of the Malay electorate, other Pakatan leaders will be flooding the Felda settlements in a last ditch bid to swing votes.

Early this morning saw the launch of a two-day National Felda Settlers Gathering event at Sungai Tengi, organised by the pro-PAS National Felda Settlers Childrens' Association (Anak).

The Felda settlement, located in Hulu Bernam, will be visited by a slew of top-ranking Pakatan leaders including PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, Zaid, PAS Selangor chief Hassan Ali, central committee member Muhammad Sabu and Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo' Lo' Ghazali.

Zaid's schedule is tight with visits to mostly Malay-centric areas starting at Taman Sungai Buaya (4pm) followed by Pekan Rasa (8pm), Apartment Teratai (9pm), Sg Tengi, Hulu Bernam (10pm), Hulu Rening, Batang Kali (11pm) and Kg Melayu Rasa Tambahan (11.30pm).

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim also threw his weight behind the campaign with a dialogue session with Felda settlers at Kg Sungai Buaya in Rawang.

BN may have mobilised their forces a bit later, but it is no less hectic for electoral debutante P Kamalanathan, though his schedule for the day seems to focus more on non-Malay areas.

It would appear that the BN machinery is not leaving anything to chance by letting their candidate focus on Indian, Chinese and Orang Asli areas such as Ulu Yam, Kuala Kubu Baru, Kerling and the various Orang Asli settlements dotted around the constituency.

Rosmah in the mix

It looks like the federal ruling party's strategy is to use its biggest assets, Prime Minister Najib Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to consolidate their Malay support base.

NONE Najib's schedule includes Friday prayers at the Ar-Rahman mosque followed by lunch with imams and the Hulu Selangor district mosque's committee, both in Kg Sungai Buaya, and later announcing incentives for mosques and suraus at Masjid Ulu Yam.

Muhyiddin is scheduled to meet Hulu Selangor Rela members at Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Kuala Kubu Bharu.

The campaign caps off tomorrow with a host of events organised to bring leaders in direct contact with the constituents tomorrow.

Pakatan’s schedule will focus on Nik Aziz again, starting with morning prayers and talk at Masjid As-Salam in Bukit Sentosa and later in the evening with a ceramah at the Kuala Kubu Bharu mini-stadium.

Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor will also be throwing her weight behind Kamalanathan by officiating the Majlis Nasi Lemak-Teh Tarik dan Makanan Warisan 1 Malaysia programme.

Candidates go all out at last lap of race