Teary candidate upset at media, turns to CNN
BUKIT GELUGOR Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad, one of two independent candidates in the Bukit Gelugor by-election, has lamented the lack of media coverage for him.
BUKIT GELUGOR Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad, one of two independent candidates in the Bukit Gelugor by-election, has lamented the lack of media coverage for him.
A teary-eyed Abu Backer said he felt so dejected that he had at one point considered withdrawing as a candidate in the by-election.
In his hour-long nagging to any journalist who would listen to him at the lobby of Traders Hotel in George Town, he even mooted turning to US news network CNN.
"I am upset with the media. Why would I want to contest if there is no media freedom (to cover me). I am fighting for the rakyat.
"Boycott-lah, I have CNN, they have waited for me for a long time," he said.
However, Abu Backer, who is a lawyer, said he regained his spirit after receiving encouraging support from Chinese voters at a ceramah last night.
Abu Backer told the press that among the issues he was taking up now was the plight of taxi drivers whom he claimed were being victimised by the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad).
"I swear if Spad revokes their (taxi) permits, I will pay their salary until they die," he said.
He claimed taxi drivers were forced not to comply to rules of using the meter as their welfare was not well taken care off.
Abu Backer will be facing off with another independent candidate Nabi Bux Mohd Nabi Sathar and DAP's Ramkarpal Singh ( left ) on polling day which is set for May 25.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Ramkarpal's father, Karpal Singh, who died in a car accident near Kampar, Perak on April 17.
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