With three days left of the campaign period, PKR is attempting to capitalise on its popularity in urban centres by asking young voters from Hulu Selangor but residing elsewhere to come home.

 

In what appears to be a last ditch effort to win, the party is raising banners around the constituency saying that they are in danger of losing the by-election and is banking on the young voters to save the day.

 

According to PKR Youth (AMK) Information Chief Lee Khai Loon, an estimated 10 percent of the 64,500 registered voters in Hulu Selangor are currently working and residing elsewhere.

 

“From our walkabouts we found that in every 100 houses we visit, about 10 families have children working and residing elsewhere,” he said told reporters at Kuala Kubu Bharu today.

 

As such, PKR is trying to draw these young voters home through campaigns on social networking website Facebook , micro-blogging site Twitter , mobile text messages and videos on the internet.

 

NONE “We are also urging friends and family to persuade those residing elsewhere to come home this Sunday. Use this by-election as an excuse for a family reunion,” he said.

 

DAP campaign coordinator Lau Weng San shared that they also plan to take up advertisements in mainstream newspapers on the weekend for this purpose.

 

He said that it is estimated that half of the young voters from Hulu Selangor are working in surrounding areas like Kuala Lumpur, Rawang, Selayang and Tanjung Malim.

 

“Young voters are our supporters, so we cannot afford to lose a single one of them,” he said.

 

‘Dirty tactics’ to win over Orang Asli

 

The race for votes also sees both sides going all out to court the 721 Orang Asli votes.

 

But according to PKR Orang Asli campaigners, BN is resorting to dirty tactics by using the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) in their campaign.

 

NONE The campaigners, who come from Orang Asli communities in Pahang, allege that BN has been using the JHEOA trucks to bring in the goodies, but tried to hide this by placing a sticker over the department logo.

 

They claim that the Orang Asli are presented with seeds, food, alcohol, hosting rock concerts and in some instances handing out cash in a bid to curry favour.

 

But Kampung Orang Asli Serendah resident Masah Anak Tan appeared unconvinced, accusing BN of treating them without respect.

 

“They brought in mangosteens and coconut seeds, but after taking photos, loaded the mangosteen seeds back into the truck,” he said, drawing laughter from other Orang Asli in the room.

 

Masah also complained of the police booth set up in his settlement, saying that this move is unprecedented in the decades that he has lived there.

 

Police presence is also being used as a form of intimidation, added Pahang Orang Asli PKR member Ramli Lugan.

 

He said that JHEOA threatened that they will lodge a police report against him if he campaigns and puts up PKR banners in the settlements.

 

NONE They claim that the department is also urging village heads to kick out PKR campaigners who are currently living with families in the settlements.

 

Selangor Orang Asli Affairs Exco Elizabeth Wong ( centre in pix ) urged the Election Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Civil Service Commission to take action against the violations which have occurred.