Pakatan Rakyat's candidate Zaid Ibrahim for the Hulu Selangor by-election quipped today that he is "falling in love" with the bucolic constituency.

 

"I am starting to fall in love with Hulu Selangor... people say that if you don't know, you don't love... so for the next seven days I will introduce myself, and I hope the people will fall in love (with me)," he said, unruffled by the fierce contest ahead.

 

Zaid also dismissed the contention that he would be handicapped by the fact that he is not a local resident of Hulu Selangor.

 

NONE He reiterated that he has been living in Petaling Jaya for over 30 years and his opponent P Kamalanathan from BN was not a local resident either.

 

"What is crucial is to understand the voters and whether I can solve their problems," said Zaid at a press conference after filing his nomination papers this morning.

 

"I think with the experience of being a minister previously, (and with) that experience... I can solve problems - drainage, housing," said the former law minister who quit the government in 2008.

 

He pointed out that his close links with the Selangor government, which is controlled by Pakatan, will make his task in representing Hulu Selangor easier.

 

Zaid said he intends to bring investment opportunities to Hulu Selangor and to boost the local economy.

 

'Man of the future'

 

Meanwhile, PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was at the press conference along with other top Pakatan leaders, stated in a short speech that the opposition is proud to field a person of Zaid's calibre at this by-election.

 

NONE PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang added that the party's 40 branches in the constituency will be working hard to support Zaid’s campaign.

 

When asked about rumours that PAS was not in favour of Zaid’s candidacy, Hadi said: "It's is not true... PAS is firmly backing Zaid."

 

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang also sung praises, likening Zaid as the "man of the future".

 

"We call on Hulu Selangor voters to become the constituents of the future... vote for Zaid and send out a clear message that there’ll soon be political change in federal power," said Lim.

Who can better represent Hulu S'gor in Parliament?