– ‘Cikgu Mala mali’
Normala Sudirman, PAS standard-bearer, carries the “underdog” label as she enters the Tenang arena, but she is burning with determination and hope.
She today said that she was ready to give a good fight and was even hoping to pull off a “surprise” win.
“On Jan 30, hopefully there would be a surprise here and I can be the voice of the rakyat in Tenang,” the 38-year-old woman said at a press conference after she was announced as the only candidate going up against Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, 39.
(Pic – Cikgu Mala faces the Media at press conference after nominated as PAS candidate yesterday)
“This is an acknowledgement of women and educationists. I hope the rakyat will vote for change. I believe they would make the best choice as they are smart voters,” said the former secondary school teacher who resigned her position to contest the by-election.
“I am optimistic,” said Normala, who is also popularly called Cikgu Mala here.
Meanwhile, her opponent Azahar was more reserved with his comments, leaving most of the talking to Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin.
“I thank the BN leaders for supporting me. Hopefully, with the combined strength, we’ll strive to win over the Chinese, Malays and Indians,” he said.
Asked about the fact that he was going against a woman candidate, Azahar said: “Each will have to prove his or her own capability; men have their advantages and women, too.”
He then declined to speak further, pleading hounding reporters to “give me some time to rest”.
It was announced earlier that the Tenang state by-election will be seeing a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and PAS.
The nation’s 14th by-election was triggered by the death of incumbent assemblyman, BN’s Sulaiman Tahar, 59, on Dec 17 last year from high blood pressure and diabetes.
Sulaiman beat PAS candidate Mohd Saim Siran by a majority of 2,492 votes in the 2008 general election.
Tenang has 14,753 registered voters comprising 7,014 Malays (47.5%), 5,766 Chinese (39%), 1,780 Indians (12%) and other races (1.5%). There are 18 postal voters. – FMT
Cikgu Mali!
“Cikgu mari!” jerit beberapa orang anak berbangsa Tionghwa sebaik sahaja melihat kehadiran calon PAS itu di Pekan Labis. Mereka yang sedang bersedia untuk memasuki kelas tuisyen, tidak melepaskan peluang untuk bersalaman dengan Cikgu Normala.
Cikgu Normala memulakan hari pertama kempen di pekan Labis dengan mengunjungi kedai-kedai sambil mengedarkan kad Tahun Baru Cina dan limau kepada peniaga di situ.
Beliau turut diiringi oleh empat Ahli Parlimen dan Adun Pakatan Pakatan Rakyat yang berbangsa Cina.
Kehadiran Tian Chua, Hee Loy Sian, William Leong dan Gan Pei Nei itu lambang sokongan padu rakan-rakan Pakatan Rakyat kepada PAS dalam pilihanraya kecil Dun Tenang ini.
Perjalanan kempen turut dimeriahkan dengan lagu mandarin ‘Bu Sien Tau’ yang digubah liriknya, sesuai dengan suasana pilihanraya.
“Pilihanraya kecil sudah tiba di Tenang. Menyambut pilihanraya kecil, mengundi Pakatan Rakyat,” lagu mereka berulang kali.
Tiga Fokus Utama Cikgu Mala
Pertama, beliau akan menyuarakan masalah rakyat Dun Tenang. Kedua, beliau akan menyuarakan masalah kaum hawa di sini dan yang ketiga mewakili suara majoriti guru di Labis.
Normala pada sidang media selepas SPR mengumumkan calon layak bertanding memberitahu, sekurang-kurangnya tiga fokus utamanya jika dipilih sebagai wakil rakyat.
Tambah Normala lagi, beliau yakin pengundi Tenang akan berani membuat perubahan dengan memilih calon PAS sebagai wakil rakyat mereka.
Pegawai pengurus pilihan raya, Md Asri Amir pagi tadi mengumumkan pilihan raya kecil Tenang pada Ahad depan akan menyaksikan pertandingan satu lawan satu antara BN dan PAS. Normala Sudirman mewakili PAS dan Mohd Azahar Ibrahim mewakili BN.
Ketua Pembangkang Dun Johor Dr Boo Cheng Hau, dari DAP sewaktu penamaan calon pagi tadi berkata “Kami tunggu kehadiran Cikgu Mala bersama kami di Dun Johor”. Beliau bersama pimpinan DAP lain turut turun padang menyokong kempen calon PR itu. – Laman rasmi PRK Tenang
