Barisan Alternatif (BA) leaders have held their first major ceramah (political talk) in the Batu township with Tian Chua, the Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) candidate for the parliamentary seat, wooing voters with his vision of a united Malaysia.

"We have made our sacrifice to build a new society," he told some 500 people gathered in Taman Dato Senu in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, last night.

"My (party compatriots) and I have been jailed. This is the price we are willing to pay. We hope the people will give the mandate to a group that loves this country," said the former Internal Security Act detainee.

Playing on his trump card as a reformist detained for protesting the jailing of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, Chua appeared to have touched a chord with his largely Malay audience.

The crowd was apparently not concerned that his pledge sounded similar to that made by Barisan Nasional in its manifesto or about the implications of his battle cry - 'Malaysia should be a place where citizens of all races are given equal opportunities to development'.

'Strong as stone'

What mattered, as his campaign workers were keen to stress, was that his time behind bars had turned him into a person who transcends racial lines.

"What Batu needs is an MP who is as strong as a batu (stone). You need someone who is brave and not mute in Parliament. Tian Chua has proven himself. He is not someone only interested in Chinese community issues," said campaign manager Ng Lam Yong.

Breaking off occasionally to address the Chinese section of the audience in Mandarin during his speech, Chua's apologies to Malays in the crowd were greeted with good-natured assent.

" Boleh, boleh ," responded the residents, who had brought along mats and staked out their spots in front of the makeshift stage an hour before Chua arrived.

The Keadilan vice-president also announced plans to set up a service team to help obtain a higher allocation from the government for development in the area.

"Batu is a part of Kuala Lumpur. It is the government's task to develop this area and set aside an allocation for it. The team will help fight for allocations," he said.

"We should not still see problems of clogged drains, no water, no electricity or lifts that do not work. To solve all these problems, more must be done than going to the city council. Batu needs someone who is here to change the government policy."

Mohd Ezam's presence

Also helping Tian Chua's cause last night was the scheduled appearance of the party's charismatic Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor. Enraptured, the crowd braved the drizzle to hear him speak till close to midnight.

Speaking with a northern accent, Mohd Ezam once again raised several questions for Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"We have made many police reports on corruption cases. In fact, we lodged 70 cases against (former Prime Minister Dr) Mahathir Mohamad. Why hasn't Abdullah acted on these?

"This shows that Abdullah still chooses the people he wants arrested. He decides that (former Perwaja managing director) Eric Chia and (former land and cooperative development minister) Kasitah Gaddam are charged but he also decides that (Minister of International Trade and Industry) Rafidah Aziz is not," he said, evoking cries of reformasi .

Mohd Ezam also spoke at length about how unfair it was that he and two other Keadilan leaders were told by the Election Commission that they could not contest due to their respective criminal convictions.

"As long as I am still free to speak here, it shows that they still have not proven their case conclusively against me. I still have avenues to appeal my conviction," he said, amidst thunderous applause.

Ezam had originally expressed an intention to contest against BN vice-president Najib Abdul Razak (photo) in the Pekan parliamentary seat in Pahang.

"I didn't want to just contest in my home area in Shah Alam. I wanted to fight Najib on his home ground. His seat was held by his father (former Prime Minister Abdul Razak) since 1978. Why should he be afraid?" he said.

Difficult task

Assessing Keadilan's chances in capturing Batu, a Keadilan supporter said local sentiments suggested that this is not impossible although it would be a close call.

"In 1999, the reformists were a lot stronger. Even now, the crowds are smaller compared to before," said the supporter who declined to be named.

Another party worker said studies carried out by researchers attached to the International Islamic University have shown a possible swing of five percent of Malay community votes back to BN, which is represented by Gerakan incumbent Ng Lip Yong.

"(Tian Chua) is recognised by the people but there is still more work to be done," he added.

The polls of Sunday will see the Keadilan vice-president fielded for the first time * as an election candidate [correction] .

In 1999, BA fielded Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) deputy president Dr Sanusi Osman in the constituency. Sanusi lost to Ng by a marginal majority of 2,297 votes or 5.3 percent of total votes cast.

PRM candidates are contesting under the Keadilan banner this time around, to manifest the two parties' decision to merge. While the merged entity was launched last August, it has yet to obtain approval from the Registrar of Societies.

Correction: This is the second time Tian Chua is contesting in the polls. In 1999, he lost to MCA's Fong Chan Onn in the Selandar parliamentary seat (Malacca).