Before today's dramatic reversal, the residents of Batu Gajah are feeling left out from the normally festive-like election fever here.

The main town of Batu Gajah was virtually free from any form of political campaign; no flags, no banners and no flyers, not even from the DAP.

dap dompok and sexist remarks pc 170507 fong poh kuan With incumbent Fong Po Kuan announcing her decision of not contesting the seat, Batu Gajah parliamentary seat is seen as a hot bed for both DAP and BN.

The BN machinery has already secretly said that it has a better chance of winning with the exit of Fong.

A check by Malaysiakini around Batu Gajah town found that business was usual with no election mood.

M Sukumaran, a representative from a Perak-based NGO, said that this was due to the uncertainty as to who would be contesting under the DAP ticket.

Later this afternoon, Fong announced at a press conference that she had changed her mind and will be defending Batu Gajah.

MCA’s dinner

batu gajah 220208 mca dinner But yesterday, the only indication of the looming election in Batu Gajah is the MCA-sponsored dinner feast for the residents of Batu Gajah at the Batu Gajah Plaza last night. Party workers were seen busily arranging the tables and preparing for the dinner.

A Muthu, 53, who runs a food stall at the plaza, said while the dinner was ostensibly to celebrate the Chinese New Year, he nevertheless believed it was a political ploy to garner votes from the public.

BN and MCA flags were seen put up leading to the entrance of the plaza, while Rela officers closed down the road and diverted the traffic.

batu gajah 220208 bn posters While the atmosphere at the main town was normal, things were not the same at the outskirts area. Umno and PAS flags were seen everywhere, including at the unfinished flyover.

In semi-rural Tronoh, a state seat currently held by MCA, which comes under the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat, operation centres were set up by both MCA and DAP.

Tough fight is expected in the polling district of Kampung Nalla, a Chinese-majority new village. Volunteers from DAP were seen cleaning their operation centre with large banners and flags.

Fong’s choice

Last Sunday, Fong announced that she would not be defending the Batu Gajah seat, citing internal party turmoil.

batu gajah parliamentary seat election results 180108 She suggested that the seat is given to the Pasir Pinji state representative Su Keong Siong, and gave her assurance that she would personally help him to win in the state.

The party has not made a decision on its candidate for the seat. It is believed that several others in the state are also eyeing the seat.

Fong became an overnight celebrity when she contested and won the Batu Gajah seat in her maiden attempt in 1999. She was only 26-years-old then.

She went on to retain the seat in 2004 by defeating the present MCA secretary general Ong Ka Chuan, with a higher majority.

MCA yesterday announced that rookie Cheah Yoke Can would try to win the seat back for the party.

B Mahendran is part of Malaysiakini’s general election team.