About 300 PKR workers, clad mostly in the party colours of turquoise blue and blood red, were in Kuala Kubu Bharu tonight to launch their bid to defend its marginal seat of Hulu Selangor.

The multi-purpose hall in the colonial town reverberated with shouts of 'reformasi' and 'allahuakbar' throughout the two-hour event which ended at 11pm.

NONE Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, who is leading the electoral campaign, again defended that the issuing of permanent land titles to settlers with temporary occupying licence (TOL) was a state government policy and not an election gimmick.

"The people have pleaded to the district office, so we decided to give them, irrespective of their political afflictions, the opportunity to own the land they have lived on for over 30 years," said Khalid.

"The registration for the land titles is an on-going process, and it is not true to say that this is an election gimmick," said Khalid.

Asked whether the land titles will help boost Pakatan's profile among the people, especially since the three state constituencies under the Hulu Selangor parliament seat are controlled by BN, Khalid said:

"Well, it's up to the voters, I do see that the people are relieved after waiting for so many years... here we have a government that is giving out the land titles willingly.”

However, DAP Kepong parliamentarian Tan Seng Giaw, who was also at the launch tonight, expressed reservation that the policy would be able to win votes for Pakatan.

"The people may take them (the land titles) and vote the other side. How many can we give anyway?" he told Malaysiakini.

Tan pointed out that the BN gave out extensive election goodies in the 2008 general elections.

"The people took from other side, but voted for us," he said.

pkr launch of hulu selangor machinery 090410 Other Pakatan bigwigs at the launch included PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, election director Fuziah Salleh and deputy director of operation Abdullah Sani as well state executive councillors Xavier Jayakumar, Hasan Ali and Teresa Kok.

Also present was Malaysia Trade Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahrir Mohamud, who is said to be one of the many potential candidates for PKR.

Party workers urged to go all-out

The Pakatan leaders told party workers to go out all-out when campaigning kicks off on April 17 to convince the 65,000 voters in Hulu Selangor to back Pakatan.

A party workers told Malaysiakini that he would be taking leave from work during the eight-day election campaign.

"I want to Pakatan to maintain its position, and I'm willing to do all I can to make sure that we win," said the local factory, who requested anonymity.

Pakatan and BN will face off for the 10th time since the general elections two years ago at the by-election on April 25, which is expected to see a close fight between candidates from MIC and PKR.

While nomination is a week away, the two rival coalitions are tight-lipped over who will be named for the crucial contest.

MIC deputy president G Palanivel lost to Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad of PKR by a tissue-thin majority of 198 votes in the 2008 general election.

The by-election is being held following the death of Zainal Abidin on March 25.