Bukit Selambau, also known as Bukit Selambu, in Kedah, is a symbol of anachronism: it has been largely untouched by the winds of development that have swept neighbouring towns of Kuala Ketil and Kuala Muda in the last few decades.

Located 30 kilometres west of Sungai Petani and not too far from the Thai border, many Thais have settled down in Bukit Selambau, with quite a number of them enjoying bumiputera status even though they are not regarded as Malays.

bukit selambau 110209 The main industry in Bukit Selambau is agriculture, and a majority of the local residents work in farms and plantations, with only a handful venturing into small businesses.

When contacted, one of the residents, a Chinese restaurant worker who wished to remain anonymous, said she has never ventured out of Bukit Selambau and does not know much about the world beyond its borders.

She added that many of her friends and relatives too have been cocooned in Bukit Selambau for decades.

However, the sleepy town may soon wake up to commotion and excitement as the rigorous voting machineries of Pakatan Rakyat and BN arrive for the upcoming by-election prompted by the resignation of former Pakatan assemblyperson, V Arumugam.

Fertile area

Like the other "Bukit" constituency, Bukit Gantang that will soon turn into an electoral battleground, Bukit Selambau is also a fertile area renowned for its fruit orchards.

bukit selambau by election pakatan rakyat dap pas pkr However, unlike Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau has a more balanced racial makeup of 48.3 percent Malay, 22 percent Chinese and 28.8 percent Indian residents.

Although Pakatan has already fired the first salvo by announcing that it will field an Indian candidate and BN is likely to follow suit, it is obvious that whoever the two coalitions field will have to appeal to all three major races.

The candidates must also prove themselves to be capable of bringing progress and development to the largely forgotten town.