In any by-election, the battle between the two biggest candidates has traditionally been a David and Goliath story.

Though the young shepherd, David, slayed the 3m-tall Goliath with a pebble to the giant's temple from his catapault in this gripping good over evil story, the political reality is that when the odds are stacked against the underdog, they really show.

NONE In the case of the Tenang by-election, nominations closed this morning with PAS candidate Normala Sudirman squaring off against Umno's Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, 39 ( right ), in a straight fight.

She has to go uphill all the way, if the opposition is to clinch victory.

With Mohd Azahar hailing from a well-established local family, the contest looks to be lopsided even before the official start of campaigning today.

He has led a life of relative privilege in the tiny town of Tenang, with his kin among the local elites.

Coming from a family of Umno divisional warlords in the area, his late father Ibrahim Daud was Tenang assemblyperson from 1999 to 2004. Uncle Hashim Daud is Labis division vice-chairperson.

In fact, Mohd Azahar's family is seens as a dynasty of sorts in Labis, the town centre of the Tenang state constituency.

NONE Local Umno divisional leaders, such as acting division chief Rusdin Mahamud and Wanita chief Haslinda Salleh - who had been speculated to be picked as candidates, said they had no qualms supporting BN's choice of candidate.

Educated in UK, Mohd Azahar's stature as a former assistant district officer in Rengit could turn out to be a Catch-22 situation for him.

While rural Malay voters still steeped in the culture of patronage and deep respect for senior government officers may see Mohd Azahar as their natural choice, the same cannot be said about the Chinese voters.

Bane of the Chinese residents

In any semi-rural constituency, much like Tenang, it is the Chinese voters who dominate the economic activities, as well as hold some valuable land.

They consider dealing with mid-level government servants in places such as the District and Land Office as a bureaucratic chore, and have for long viewed the big boys in local authorities with some distrust.

azlan In short, it is Mohd Azahar's very own position that could be a sore point for him with Tenang's Chinese voters, who make up 39 percent.

In contrast, Normala's humble beginnings as a long-time, respected teacher in a local primary school may win her quite some support from those less inclined to the obvious display of political connections.

The voters will also be able to empathise with the fact that her husband - a teacher in a Tenang school - was reported to have been targeted by his superiors in the Johor Education Department for his political inclinations.

"This may be a factor (for voter support). God willing, that they know I have taught here before and many of the traders here know my father and husband, or that I have taught their children," said Normala, who is the PAS Labis Muslimat chief.

In the battle of these two faces easily recognised in town, and with  nominations making Tenang a BN-Pakatan straight fight, the outcome of the contest will show whether power can triumph over piety.