The Petaling Jaya Selatan parliamentary constituency in Selangor is now being earnestly courted by Barisan Nasional 'old hands' and opposition 'young guns' alike.

The lead actors for the play's main battle scene are an engineer and a lawyer, while a doctor and a research executive are taking on supporting roles at the Bukit Gasing arena.

BN's incumbent Donald Lim, the engineer, is engaged in a 'war dance' with Keadilan's vice-president R Sivarasa, the lawyer, for the PJ Selatan parliamentary seat.

For the Bukit Gasing state seat, BN's incumbent Dr Lim Thuang Seng is in the cross-hairs of newcomer John Chung, DAP's 27-year-old candidate.

So what are the BN's chances of retaining all three seats? Together with his BN colleague Dr Lim, Lim says they have both consistently raised and debated local and national issues in parliament and at the Selangor state assembly.

Engineer Lim is confident of winning a fresh mandate from PJ Selatan constituents because "they know what I have done".

"In the last nine years, I have delivered what I pledged to the electorate. Similarly, in the next five years, I will not disappoint them."

Describing himself as "dynamic, enthusiastic, matured and responsible," Lim urged voters to use this criterion when selecting their representative.

"I have been raising questions in parliament and to various government agencies on a variety of issues among others the 8 th Malaysia Plan, toll collection, the economy, the environment, inflation and foreign labour."

Lim pledges to continue addressing issues involving hawkers, land titles and renewal premiums, transport, security, education and the environment.

He also plans to tackle the areas property leasehold issue which is a huge thorn in the side of affected residents.

His past achievements include obtaining state approval for 560 families to renew their property leases and launching programmes to improve the English of children living in the urban squatter colonies.

"An MP can only meet three to five percent of his constituents during his or her tenure. The rest will have to judge him or her based on performance," says the 49-year-old father of four.

Local council elections

The opposition candidate, on the other hand, seems to be scoring points with a better approach to the various issues facing PJ residents.

Keadilan's Sivarasa plans to push for the conversion of leasehold land in the area to freehold. "About 70 percent of Selangor is leasehold but if Kuala Lumpur and elsewhere can have freehold land, why not here too?" he questions.

Citing Keadilan's 'The Third Way' slogan, he appeals for a more "strong and credible opposition voice in parliament" and pledges to lead and sustain campaigns to restore local elections and manage land conversion.

"PJ has two parliamentary and four state seats and none have the opposition's voice," he notes, describing the quality and level of discussion during the current campaigning period as "pathetic".

"This scenario also applies to the whole country which is why it is crucial to have a greater opposition voice to stem corruption and abuse of power, among others."

He blamed the BN's continued tenure in PJ for an "over-developed, polluted township teeming with urban slum-type problems" where consultation and personal security is wanting.

Sivarasa believes that local elections will ensure a more accountable and efficient local administration, including a police force that can guarantee personal security.

"I refuse to accept the argument that personal security is the people's problem. It is the government's duty and responsibility to provide us personal security," he insists.

Following the discontinuation of local elections in 1965, a royal commission of inquiry was formed to look into possible reforms but the government subsequently rejected the recommendations.

PJ poser

"If a system fails to operate as it should, then it needs to be changed or upgraded," argues Sivarasa saying his idea of a balanced legislature is to have about 70 opposition MPs out of the total 219.

"I have no illusions whatsoever that the BN will win this election, and I have no problems with that. I also have no problems with the BN forming the government of the day.

"But a substantial opposition voice in parliament will go a long way in helping prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi implement his much-needed reforms," he says.

Sivarasa also warns PJ constituents to be beware of Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's battle cry for the state which is Pembangkang Sifar (Zero Opposition).

"Just hearing the slogan sent chills down my spine," says Sivarasa. "This is the kind of mentality people should be wary of."

Meanwhile, three other players have also been cast in supporting roles in Taman Medan, a scene of complex issues for some time now.

They are BN's Abdul Wahab Ibrahim, Keadilan's Wan Razali Wan Kadir and Kamarul Jaman Seeni Mohideen, running as an independent.

The showdown in Taman Medan is bound to provide some excitement, especially since the area made headlines three years ago following racial clashes in several squatter colonies there.

Whether voters go for the manifestos offered by the opposition candidates or are content for more of the same from the BN representatives is left to be seen.

Come Sunday, the 'PJ Selatan Poser' will be solved courtesy of the constituency's 73,000 voters.