Hot tempers despite cold showers on Nomination Day

The normally idyllic weekend getaway of Port Dickson became the flash point for hot tempers which even the morning downpour failed to douse.

Thousands of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat supporters threw insults and the occasional water bottle at each other between 9am and until about 11.30am when their leaders left the nomination centre at the Port Dickson Municipality Council hall.

Initially, the Election Commission had determined that the Pakatan crowd would be allowed to gather in an area behind the hall while BN would gather on a slope near the building at the front entrance facing Jalan Pantai.

Incidently, the thousands cramped on the slope presented a better view for media cameras.

Gradually, more Pakatan supporters gathered near the BN camp while those who originally gathered behind the hall joined their comrades in Jalan Pantai to unleash a chorus of jeers at their BN counterparts.

A Pakatan supporter who wished to only be identified as Low, 28, said he was unaware that the EC had predetermined the rally points.

"I just followed where the crowd went," said the computer engineer who left from Kuala Lumpur at 6am to join in the festivities.

‘Headache for Umno if Isa wins'

Police appeared slow to act but eventually, riot police were stationed to keep opposing supporters at bay. Other uniformed personnel were seen constantly reminding supporters from both sides to keep their emotions in check.

Other than Putera Umno chief Abdul Azeez Rahim's claim that he was punched nine times by Pakatan supporters, there are no other incidents reported.

Inside the nomination centre, Pakatan leaders tried to play down what has been described as a expected walkover for BN candidate Mohd Isa Samad, who was formerly the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.

"God willing, there is a good chance (for us)," said Zulkefly Omar, the PAS candidate and also Negeri Sembilan PAS chief.

Two-term PAS vice-president Husam Musa admitted that Zulkefly was the underdog in this race but adds that "on many occasions, even the underdog can win. Pakatan is not disunited. Overall, it is solid".

"Our candidate is someone who can connect with all races, with a good track record and has the necessary qualifications. The people here want a clean candidate, so we have an advantage here.

"For Umno, they are not ‘solid' because of Isa. If Isa wins, he can impose himself as an alternative menteri besar for Negeri Sembilan," said Husam, who is still an influential party leader.

NS PAS not well rooted

Realistically, PAS' chances are slim in Bagan Pinang not only because a third of the 13,000 voters are made up of postal voters - which are said to be easily manipulated by the government - but because the party does not have strong roots in Negeri Sembilan.

In 2008, PAS contested 13 seats and won only one.

Its party state headquarters is hidden in the rural parts of Jalan Jelebu and its signboard was only erected after the party nominated its candidate on Oct 28.

Its main operation centre is on a much smaller scale than in recent by-elections, made of up of a series of small tents unlike the closed-door venues seen before.

This venue proved unsuitable for the ceremony to announce its candidate, forcing the party to borrow the far larger DAP operation centre which is housed in a large bungalow with a huge front lawn.

For Negeri Sembilan DAP chief Anthony Loke, being labled the underdog and not being under pressure is returning to familiar opposition territory.

He pointed out that now it was Umno that was under pressure to deliver the votes in view of the fact that it is fielding a scandal-tainted candidate.

"This is going to be a good test for Pakatan, to see how we progressed since 2008... Of course, in any race, we aim to win," he said.

Additional reporting by Lee Way Loon.