With only two more days to go to the much anticipated by-election in Bukit Selambau, candidates from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are working hard to cover as many areas as possible to canvass for votes.

Both heavyweights, who are battling for the state seat with 13 other independent candidates, have been wooing the voters through various means.

bukit selambau gerakan mca ganesan event 040409 02 This morning, BN's candidate S Ganesan, made it his priority to visit the homes of voters who are disabled.

He has been concentrating on wooing voters through house-to-house visits rather than organising large scale ceramahs. Ganesan was seen making his rounds in Taman Ria accompanied by Wanita Umno members from the Merbok division.

The urban settlement of Taman Ria is populated by almost 66 percent Malays, 24 percent Chinese and 10 percent Indians and made up 6.3 percent of votes in the state seat. It has been seen as the key target for votes by all the candidates.

The sidewalks of the roads leading into the housing estate has been decked with tents and illuminated by colourful flyers and banners from almost all of the by-election candidates.

Ganesan, a lawyer who grew up in the Sungai Division estate in Bukit Selambau constituency, today made it a point to walk up to several houses identified by the area's Umno division as needing the help of the welfare services.

'Ganesan will win by 2,000-vote majority'

Sixty-three-year-old Ramli Mohammad, who was visited by Ganesan, assured him that all four voters in his family would cross BN's scales.

selambau by election 040409 manikumar poster hanging “Don't worry, you will win by at least a 2,000-vote majority,” said Ramli to Ganesan who was seated on the floor.

Owner of 'Hamid Rojak', a famous small stall known for its rojak in Taman Ria, Sahul Hamid, was glowing with pride when Ganesan visited his roadside stall.

Sahul told Malaysiakini that Ganesan was his candidate of choice, he knows him well and Ganesan wife frequently visits the stall for rojak.

“I have been doing business here for 11 years now... I think he (Ganesan) can do much for us if he is elected,” said the 35-year-old of Indian Muslim origin.

selambau pkr altantuya prayers 040409 terresa kok The PKR machinery, meanwhile, decided to emulate their supporters in Bukit Gantang ( pic below ) and organised a special prayer to pay their respects to murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in light of the Cheng Beng festival, the Chinese equivalent for All Souls' Day.

The festival is observed by the local Chinese community with prayers and offerings to their ancestors. The special prayer was undertaken by the Chinese members of PKR at their centre in the Sungai Lalang division.

selambau pkr altantuya prayers 040409 ceremony 3 On a table lined with a white table cloth was a framed black and white photograph of Shaariibuu. Two trays filled with paper money and fruits as well as buns were placed beside the photo.

The prayers were attended by PKR and DAP leaders including Teresa Kok, William Leong, Tian Chua and Hee Loy Sian with some 30 supporters.

Selangor state assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei, who briefed all those who were present, said the prayers were to “claim justice for Shaariibuu and for her restless soul to rest in peace”.

All them had also lit incense sticks and burnt funeral paraphernalia including paper money and other papier mache reproductions of material items.

selambau pkr altantuya prayers 040409 crowds Speaking to reporters after the ritual had taken place, Tian Chua denied that they were holding the prayers to woo voters.

However, he said the prayers was held to educate voters that, “if government institutions were used to protect those who committed the offence, a normal citizen's safety will not be guaranteed”.