Published February 11, 2009

Barisan faces challenge of two by-elections

Opposition dubs them referendum on govt's Perak move

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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JUST when Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition thought it was out of the political woods, two by-elections are looming that could dent its credibility and bolster the Opposition's claim that the Barisan's recent takeover of the Perak state government was against the people's wishes.

On Monday, an opposition parliamentary lawmaker from Perak died of a heart attack, paving the way for a poll to be called in 60 days. And if that was not enough, the same night a state lawmaker from Kedah resigned for 'personal' problems, triggering a second poll.

Kedah is run by a Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance) coalition government that held a 13-seat majority until the lawmaker's resignation. Perak too was led by a Pakatan government until it fell last week after three of its representatives defected and the state's ruler, Sultan Azlan Shah, refused to dissolve the assembly as Pakatan requested. Instead, he swore in a new state government led by the Barisan.

The timing of the by-elections is fortuitous for Pakatan, which is anxious to portray them as a referendum on the Barisan's seizure of Perak through what it claims were dubious methods. Pakatan leaders privately say the Perak poll will also be a referendum on the sultan's decision, which they claim is unpopular.

Pakatan's harping on the referendum theme is telling, indicating its confidence that it will emerge victorious. As ousted Perak chief minister Nizar Jamaludin said yesterday: 'I think it is a referendum, and judging by the overwhelming support given us by Perakians, we will win big.'

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, however, dismissed any suggestion that the by-elections will be a referendum on the Barisan, which he will lead until he steps down in March.

'No, you can't say that,' he said. 'It has nothing to do with it. A by-election has to be called and so we will face it.' But Mr Abdullah conceded yesterday both by-elections will be tough for the Barisan.

The Perak poll will be especially interesting, after the state seat of Bukit Gantang became vacant following the death of Roslan Shaharum, 50, from Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).

Mr Roslan was never expected to win the seat at the last election because he was challenging Azim Zabidi, the treasurer of Barisan mainstay the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which had won the seat in every poll since independence. Also, the seat is named after Panglima Bukit Gantang, an Umno founder and the first chief minister of Perak. But Mr Roslan, a classmate of Mr Azim, won convincingly in a massive swing against the Barisan.

The Kedah seat became vacant after V Arumugam of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) quit, saying he was stressed by 'outside pressures'. Reports say he could face a bigamy charge.

Mr Arumugam stood as an independent at the last election and was all but written off against the Malaysian Indian Congress candidate from the Barisan. As things turned out, he won convincingly and subsequently joined PKR.