For two days since the nomination of candidates last Saturday for the Hulu Selangor by-election, voters here seem to be receptive of the ceramah (talks) and programmes organised by the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Its Hulu Selangor by-election deputy director Mohd Idris Abu Bakar said all the ceramah, whether major, modest or small that were organised by BN or Umno were well attended by residents.

Mohd Idris, who is Hulu Selangor Umno division chief and Hulu Bernam assemblyman, said the residents also felt encouraged by the presence of the warm and friendly BN candidate P Kamalanathan, who was also impressive with his eloquence in Bahasa Malaysia.

"The people are excited to meet Kamalanathan, they want to get to know him... and he knows how to win their hearts with his geniality."

He said the Indian community in the area who felt that their needs had been neglected the past two years, also appeared to be happy with Kamalanathan as BN's choice in the by-election.

On issues raised by the opposition, Mohd Idris said the focus was more on national issues in the townships like Bukit Beruntung and Sungai Buaya, and the people would wait for the reply from BN.

"In the rural areas like Hulu Bernam, they don't bother much about national issues but are much more concerned about their livelihood and welfare which they want to be attended to."

On the residents' reception towards PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim, Mohd Idris said they had been reading the newspapers and would evaluate for themselves his strengths and weaknesses and what he had done.

Besides Kamalanathan and Zaid, the two other candidates in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by-election this Sunday are VS Chandran and Johan Md Diah who are standing as independents.

(Note: Chandran pulled out from the contest this afternoon.)

The seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent MP Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25 from brain cancer.

- Bernama