SG LIMAU The Sungai Limau by-election enters its ninth day of campaign today but the two candidates in the contest - BN's Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim and PAS' Mohd Azam Samat - remain very much like "puppets".

Both Sohaimi, 52, and Azam, 37, appear to be overshadowed by the big wigs of their parties, and it is rare to hear them deliver speeches at the various events organised in the constituency of 27, 222 voters.

NONESohaimi (wearing songkok) and Azam have not been, or even heard, taking up local matters during this by-election, although a number of issues have surfaced. However, most of the issues have either been raised or responded to by their respective bosses.

Observers note that in a by-election, it is important for the candidates themselves address the issues arising, to show their interest or ability to handle the grievances of the local folk. However, this has not been the case in Sungai Limau.

Both are banking on the reputation of their bosses - Sohaimi's campaign is largely run by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

NONEThe voters of Sungai Limau cannot be faulted if they think that this is an Umno election and not a by-election, for the constituency is flooded with posters of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Muhyiddin and Mukhriz.

Even when there were SMSes going around saying that Sohaimi had previously sought treatment for mental illness, the BN candidate did not respond.

Instead, it was the PAS Sungai Limau election director and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar who issued the denial, claiming his telephone was "hacked" as the SMSes sent from his mobile number were not done by him.

Muhyiddin looked more tired...

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who made several stops in Sungai Limau from 8am, looked more exhausted than Sohaimi, who was spotted having a relaxing meal with his friends at an Indian Muslim eatery in Guar Chempedak.

NONELike Sohaimi, Azam (left)  seems to be shielded by Mahfuz and PAS Sungai Limau election operations director and Anak Bukit assemblyperson Amiruddin Hamzah, who hold daily press conferences at the party's operations centre in Kampung Batu 15, Guar Chempedak.

So far, Azam has only voiced out the need for WiFi, road repairs and Islamic education, which are also stated in his election manifesto.

NONEEven when a controversial doctored photograph of him in a meeting with former Kedah MB and Sungai Limau assemblyperson Azizan Abdul Razak was spotted in PAS flyers, Azam remained silent.

It was Amiruddin who came out to defend the party, while admitting that it was indeed doctored from a Sinar Harian photograph taken during an exclusive interview with Azizan in 2011.

Meanwhile, reporters covering the by-election face a daily challenge of getting the candidates' schedules, trailing them on their walkabouts or scheduling interviews with them.

Have journalists and cameras been too prying?

Could it be that the two candidates want to meet their voters away from the prying eyes of the cameras and the journalists who have descended into the small seat of Sungai Limau from Alor Setar, Penang and Kuala Lumpur?

NONEAccording to MCA sources, Sohaimi declined to meet with the Chinese community but this claim was immediately squashed by the party's deputy president Liow Tiong Lai, who was in Sungai Limau yesterday to witness Muhyiddin dish out RM2.25 million in cash to the three Chinese schools.

On Nov 1 and 2, more big guns - MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, Opposition Leader and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Azmin Ali, as well as Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng - will descend on Sungai Limau.

It remains to be seen whether the local voters will be moved by these visits, for the presence of both candidates will again be eclipsed by the antics of these "celebrity politicians".

Based on interviews by KiniTV.com, the voters are not familiar with either candidate, and will most probably rely on what their families, elders or village heads say before they cast their votes on Nov 4.

And athough both sides remain confident of tilting the scale in favour of their own parties, the voters themselves remain divided. Will a last minute surprise give them the needed push to make up their minds?

The rural seat of Sungai Limau fell vacant when Azizan died on Sept 26. It has a total of 27,222 voters, made up of 93 percent or 25,323 Malay voters, 1,842 Chinese voters and five Indian voters, with the remaining being voters from native communities.

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