The battle for Chinese votes in the Hulu Selangor by-election, especially in 13 Chinese new villages in the constituency, has intensified with both BN and PKR going all out to woo the voters.

While the perception is that the opposition has the edge when it comes to Chinese votes, it has not deterred the BN component parties from organising ceramah (talks) nightly, apart from daily walkabouts where the reception is often hostile.

NONE With a few more days to go before polling, BN has intensified its campaign in the Chinese areas, with Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ( left ) expected to visit some of the 13 Chinese new villages in Kuala Kubu Baharu, Rasa, Batang Kali, Ulu Yam, Kalumpang and Kerling.

"It's not easy for us. Every time we enter a new village, we got scolded. Therefore, we have to improve our strategy by getting more leaders from the MCA divisions throughout the country to help us," said a grassroot leader.

Besides organising dinners, they have alo engaged the Chinese voters through what they term as "sembang petang" (evening chats) with small groups of about 15 to 20 voters in the Chinese new villages.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said national as well as local leaders would meet them to explain the government's policies, the 1Malaysia spirit and the need to speed up the implementation of fairer policies by Najib.

BN's P. Kamalanathan is facing Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in the Sunday by-election.

"We have not received much support from the Chinese community, but with the 1Malaysia and other policies introduced by the PM, we hope to change their feelings. There are small groups among the

Chinese community who are backing the PM and we hope these groups will grow bigger by polling day," Liow said.

The MCA also began to deploy leaders from all the 22 divisions in Selangor to the 13 new villages, besides roping in some veteran leaders like former MCA vice-president Datuk Yap Pian Hon to assist the BN campaign.

kong chor ha visit hulu selangor 100410 01 "We are working hard to get more Chinese voters to vote for BN. That is why we have been asking everybody to come and help us," said MCA secretary-general and the party's Hulu Selangor by-election director Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha ( right ).

The Selangor MCA even held its state liaison committee meeting here today to finalise preparations for the critical final stage of the election campaign.

Its chairman Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said they had mobilised more than1,500 members to all the areas assigned to them.

"The last record showed that about 35 per cent Chinese in the constituency voted for BN. We are now attempting to achieve a higher figure. One of the strategies is to get our divisional leaders and members with relatives here to convince them to vote for BN.

"Apart from that, we also get our divisional leaders to go to the ground to explain to the voters and urge them to support the prime minister's 1Malaysia concept, which we feel needs to be explained fully to the Chinese community," he said.

- Bernama

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