VOXPOP | Just hours before PKR announced its Selangor candidates for the 14th general election, Rawang incumbent Gan Pei Nei held an emotionally-charged press conference in which she claimed she could be dropped for the state seat.

This, she said, was due to a poison pen letter accusing her of abusing state allocations for the constituency.

Gan’s fears came to pass as PKR Youth deputy strategy director Chua Wei Kiat was picked to replace her in Rawang.

In a Malaysiakini straw poll conducted among voters in the constituency, the sudden move by PKR appears to have agitated her wide base of supporters, particularly those from the Chinese community.

Steven Chong, who has lived in the old mining town since birth, said that Gan has worked hard in the two terms she served as assemblyperson, and that she was popular among residents – many of whom, he said, were left shocked and disappointed by the decision.

“What is this? She has served the party for the past 10 years and she won the seat. This constituency was a BN fortress before. It was very difficult for her to win it.

“The network she built over the past 10 years was very strong. I’m sure she would have won again if she was chosen to defend her seat,” said the 63-year-old restaurant owner.

‘No longer a safe seat’

Describing PKR’s decision to drop Gan as “very cruel,” Chong warned that it could cause bad blood among her strong base of supporters.

“Some of the voters may get emotional, and this is harmful to PKR. I think it is difficult for PKR to console those who feel discontent in such a short time,” he said.

Nomination day takes place tomorrow, April 28, which allows just 11 days for PKR and Chua to make a case for his candidacy before polling on May 9.

But voters in Rawang, Chong claimed, are not convinced of the wisdom behind the change in candidacy and may spoil their votes or even choose BN to express their dissatisfaction.

“There will be a large number of ‘emotional votes’ going to the other coalition (BN),” he said.

“Rawang is no longer a safe seat and may even be in danger. They (PKR) are likely to lose Rawang in the coming election.”

‘I haven’t seen the new boy’

Tham Chun Ming, 64, who opened his coffee shop in Rawang in 1996, said that everyone in town knows Gan.

This is not the case for Chua, he added, who has only been active in the constituency of late.

When showed Gan’s photo, Tham exclaimed proudly, “I am her supporter. Of course, I know her. She is our YB Gan Pei Nei. Miss Gan from Keadilan! Everyone knows her.”

In contrast, when he was shown a photo of Chua, he said: “This one? A new boy. I don’t know his name yet. I haven’t seen him here until recently.”

According to Tham, he was left dejected when he found that Gan had been dropped as a candidate.

“We are supporters of PKR. As she cried, I cried too. I cried the whole night,” he said.

When asked whether he would throw his support behind PKR’s new candidate, Tham offered a hesitant “maybe,” stressing that he would need to see how the “new boy” performs before making a judgement call.

“I’m not sure yet. I have to think carefully and make my decision.”

Tensions running high

Rawang is a Chinese-majority seat - the community accounts for half of the electorate – with a sizable Indian presence.

Gan first made her name in the once MCA fortress after working with Sungai Terentang villagers to oppose the construction of high-tension electric cable towers, years before she was elected into office with a 4,192-vote majority in 2008.

She more than doubled that majority in the 2013 polls, after building even stronger ties with Chinese villagers in the constituency.

After it was announced that Gan was not nominated for Rawang, she called a press conference at a coffee shop in town on Wednesday, but curiously did not show up herself.

An aide read out a short statement on her behalf, which only stated that Gan would still be part of Harapan’s campaign in the constituency, and not stand as an independent.

Despite the no-show, about 50 villagers had gathered at the coffee shop, hoping to see her and offer their sympathies after her removal as candidate.

Among them was a group of her staunchest supporters, who called themselves the ‘Eight Golden Flowers’. They burst into tears at the coffee shop after Gan’s statement was read out.

Party over candidate

The intense stirrings of sorrow, however, seemed to be limited to the Chinese community.

Though acknowledging Gan’s presence in Rawang, several Malay and Indian voters interviewed by Malaysiakini said PKR’s decision to replace her with Chua would not influence their vote.

Mohd Jain, 36, who described himself as not politically inclined, recognised Gan immediately when shown her photo. Upon seeing a photo of Chua, he said: “I don’t know him. I’ve never see him before.”

Nevertheless, he said he would still choose party over candidate on May 9.

Similarly, 54-year-old businessperson Karupayah Veerasamy also recognised Gan but not Chua, said he would throw his support behind Harapan’s effort to capture Putrajaya.

“The petrol prices keep rising, everything is rising. We, as businesspersons, can’t even survive now. So, no matter who (PKR’s candidate is), I will still support.”

The sentiment was echoed by shop assistant Kalathevi Ramnaidu, who identified herself as a PKR supporter.

Despite knowing that the incumbent assemblyperson will not be contesting in the coming election, she said that she would still support PKR’s pick for the seat.

“I will support PKR. Because I support what they have done, they always help the people.”