Where the loudest win the streets
A little help needed, but vote she will
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
AUG 25 — Party colours and flags flooded the streets and narrow gravel alleys of Permatang Pasir. The morning serenity was tempered by the stomp of armies of supporters from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional (BN) as old enemies, PAS and Umno, locked horns in a verbal battle to claim dominance in this semi-rural Malay heartland.
Today is D-day for voters here. The federal significance of both PR and BN now lies in the hands of the “simpletons” of Permatang Pasir. Victory for either BN’s Rohaizat Othman or PAS’s Mohd Salleh Man signals either the resurgence of support for the national ruling coalition, or a thrust to the aspirations of an opposition pact to claim federal power.
Supporters of both sides, mostly Malays, are fully aware of the significance of this by-election and thronged the streets, armed with loud-coloured banners, party logo tees and pride on their faces in an attempt to exert dominance in a constituency where the strength of both PAS and Umno are said to be equally matched.
The roadside of Kubang Semang main road was literally flooded with supporters from both sides. They formed a human chain as far as half a kilometre causing traffic congestions.
From flags to banners to umbrellas with party logos, the supporters hoisted them high and proud, a scene reminiscent of a medieval battlefield.
A sea of green, with a tinge of blue at the back.
Being fasting Muslims, they ignored thirst and hunger to engage their enemies with verbal assaults. Intense rivalries between the two led to intense confrontations. As early as 8am, supporters of PAS and Umno were already at each other, pushing and shoving after patience apparently ran out.
This became somewhat of an entertainment for the less zealous voters who came to cast their ballot. Most of them were elderly women and men, some in wheelchairs provided by the Elections Commission. Their eyes feasted on the election excitement that was before them. Contrary to reports that verbal confrontations between party supporters often cause fear among the “neutrals”, they seemed excited by it, perhaps reminded of their once-youthful exuberance.
But you have to give the elderly voters here a lot of credit. Old age and frail bones did not deter them from fulfilling their duty.
In one instant, at one of the polling stations in Sama Gagah, a Chinese-dominated area, an elderly woman did not let her inability to walk stop her from having a say in this by-election. She rowed the wheels of her wheelchair without any assistance. Even when asked if she needed any help, she humbly said no. By the way, both legs had been amputated.
“I can do this on my own. I am used to this,” she said smilingly. Human spirit at its best.
As she rowed to the SMJK Lay Keow polling station, what awaited her was another tense shouting match between PAS and Umno supporters gathered in the hundreds just outside. Again, the scenario was similar in other polling stations throughout the constituency; PAS on one side of the road, Umno just opposite.
The battle is expected to go on until polling ends at 5pm today with the result coming in at 8pm.
