Two groups have each set up a Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters club for the Bagan Pinang by-election campaign, but this has led to confusion for those not in the loop.

razali ibrahim One was founded by Youth and Sports deputy minister Razali Ibrahim ( left ) in March, and is assisted by former MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran as coordinator.

The other was set up by Senator T Murugiah, who established it as a platform for his faction after their expulsion from PPP in May.

Murugiah said he sees both as being one and the same. Speaking to reporters yesterday at his operations centre in Taman PD Utama, he declared: "Vigneswaran and his team have joined our team."

However, Vigneswaran denied this when contacted yesterday, stressing that the goals, operation centre, logo and uniform of his club are different.

bagan pinang nomination 031009 murugiah supporter His group is known by its Malay acronym KPBN and is easily distinguishable by the BN colours of blue and white, compared to the bright yellow shirts worn by Murugiah's camp.

"I haven't spoken to Murugiah or held any meeting with him. Our club may talk to him in the future to look into ways of cooperating," said Vigneswaran ( below ), a former MIC strongman.

Razali, when contacted, described Vigneswaran as an "old friend" whom he has roped in to engage the public and participate in BN's nomination day gathering for its candidate Isa Abdul Samad.

sa vigneswaran "KPBN is a platform for people to contribute to BN without joining any component party, while sharing the aspirations of BN. You could see that, on nomination day, 2,000-3,000 people turned up," said Razali.

He said he has learnt that Murugiah's supporters had also taken part in the gathering yesterday.

"Whatever he wants to do is up to him, as long as it is good for BN," added Razali, who is Muar MP and Umno Youth deputy chief.

Local volunteers

Murugiah had briefly touched on his links with Vigneswaran at his press conference yesterday, when describing his club's activities in Bagan Pinang.

He said his club had about 300 full-time local volunteers who have been helping him in campaign activities.

bagan pinang 041009 murugiah isa Murugiah ( left ) said he has observed a satisfactory increase in the level of support from Indian Malaysian voters, based on his house-to-house visits.

"We saw 3,000 Indians joining us for the nomination day procession. Although they were from different parties, it is a good sign," said Murugiah.

Indians make up a significant 20 percent or about 2,600 voters in the Bagan Pinang state seat in Negri Sembilan. However, many of them live below poverty level, mainly holding jobs as plantation workers.