GE13 WATCH SELANGOR As the general election campaign trail passed the halfway point, the Selangor Malay belt area of Kuala Selangor, Tanjung Karang, Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam was a bee-hive of activity.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak - who is also the Selangor BN chief - visited Ijok, Kuala Selangor in his rendezvous all over the Selangor state yesterday. Malaysiakini has visited these places to gauge the campaigning efforts as well.

NONE One of the candidates met included constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari ( left ), who had traded his books and classes to be a full-time politician to win the hearts of Sabak Bernam voters.

Contesting under the PKR ticket, Abdul Aziz took early retirement since Jan 1 last year from the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) and has described his chances of winning the parliamentary seat as "good", although like other Pakatan Rakyat candidates, he fears the possibility of phantom voters in his constituency.

"The response has been splendid. They are proud that I am willing to take the plunge into the risky business to take part in the process of change," said the former law professor, who is also a local from Sabak Bernam.

"While Umno-BN votes went down about 10 percent in 2008, the opposition has managed to increase its votes. Sabak Bernam stands as one of BN's critical seats in 2008. Hopefully this time around, the residents will pick me," he added.

He was met by Malaysiakini while campaigning to the Chinese and Malay fisherfolk in Bagan Sungai Burung.

Sabak Bernam's former BN MP Abdul Rahman Bakri is not contesting this time, as he was found guilty by the Shah Alam Sessions Court of making false claims.

The constitutional expert vouched to help residents resolve the land title issues plaguing the Chinese and Malay community, the plight of padi and oil palm growers, along with ensuring that enough doctors will be placed in the district hospital.

NONE "At the present time for serious cases, the patient will have to be transported either to Teluk Intan or Klang for them to seek treatment," he said.

In the last general election, Abdul Rahman ( right ) won against PKR's Badrul Amin Bahron with a majority of 1,335 votes. Abdul Aziz is in a straight fight with former education department officer Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh, who is also the Umno division secretary there.

Sources indicated that the contest for Malay votes in Sabak Bernam is quite even, at slightly above 40 percent for both coalitions, while the majority of the 2,000 Chinese voters are with the opposition.

Sabak Bernam DAP chief Mak Eng Kiang - who is also a local council member - said that Abdul Aziz's chances, along with PAS' Sabak candidate, Sallehan Mukhyi, are good.

Sg Besar and Tg Karang BN stronghold

Meanwhile, checks at the Tanjong Karang and Sungai Besar parliamentary constituency - which are BN strongholds - also see a hive of activity. Motorists were spotted plying through the Kuala Selangor and Teluk Intan main roads.

Even incumbent Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar was seen in Pasir Panjang within the Sungai Besar parliamentary constituency with incumbent Noriah Kasnon, who is also the incumbent deputy minister for women and community development.

NONE Noh, who is also the Tanjong Karang MP, attended an Agrobank function yesterday, where the bank gave out a RM250 tithe to some 200 recipients there and put up an automated teller machine.

During the function, Noh pointed out that the Pakatan Selangor government's actions - which he described as discriminatory to the Malays - and among them were not allowing a Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) branch campus to be built in Hulu Selangor on a piece of land owned by Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK).

Noh said that UiTM is for the Malays and that the foundation is for the Malays, but despite this, the Selangor Pakatan government did not allow either one.

He added that YBK and UiTM had won its court case against the Selangor Pakatan government, but the latter is appealing and this shows the arrogance of incumbent Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's administration.

NONE Noh ( right ) claimed that when the Mara Junior Science College's (MRSM) Kuala Kubu Baru boys' hostel caught fire, Mara had rented out Selangor's facility for three months, where they charged RM600 for each boy there.

"Where is the compassion shown by the Selangor Pakatan government?" he asked.

In a related development, PAS' Sungai Besar candidate Mohamed Salleh M Husin said he was not aware of tithe being paid during Noh's function, but noted that he was not surprised.

"These underhanded tactics have been happening. I have to admit that I am facing an uphill battle against the incumbent (Noriah)," said Mohamad Salleh, adding that the people of Sungai Besar are aware of allegations of corruption and shady land deals.

"However, the problem is convincing the women voters," said Salleh, a former teacher.

In the last general election, Noriah defeated Dr Osman Sabran of PAS with a majority in excess of 5,000 votes.

Noh, meanwhile, is in a three-corner fight with PAS' Mohamad Rashidi Deraman and Independent former dangdut singer Masrun Tamsi, or better known as Herman Tino.

Dr Dzul's cautious optimism

On another note, PAS supreme council member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he is cautiously optimistic that he will retain the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat.

NONE "I do not want to be too confident because of my fear of dubious or phantom voters," said the former medical science lecturer from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Similar feelings are also shared by Abdul Aziz and Mohamed Salleh on their fears of phantom voters.

Dzulkefly ( left ) noted that for the past few days, BN had attacked him by putting up a publication to Malay voters as if he was against an Islamic government.

This, he stressed, is slanderous and cited that he would go on the offensive and remind the people about the poor management by Umno-BN in Selangor.

Dzulkefly is facing Najib's former aide, Irmohizam Ibrahim, in a straight fight for the seat.