Kulim eyes the big time with Anwar as MP

KULIM, July 29 — If there is any reason to vote in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Parliament, it would be just one for Kulim. An MP who is prime minister.

That is as good as gold in Fort Knox for this pocket of prosperity called Kulim. Folks here want Anwar because it is good for their wallets and will boost their town further in the economic and development stakes.

Under former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Kulim transformed from a sleepy hollow along a bumpy road between Penang and Kedah state capital Alor Star into a bustling town with an industrial zone, a hi-tech park that houses chipmaker Intel Corporation with its own four-lane highway to Penang port.

The rapid development has whetted their appetite for more but the current turmoil in world economic markets and rising prices of fuel and food, the good folks want to maintain their new-found level of wealth acquisition.

Hours after Anwar broke the good news late on Sunday that he would contest in the Kulim Bandar Baharu parliamentary seat if a by-election is called soon, a number of people here told The Malaysian Insider that they wanted to see changes for the better in their lives, and for some it meant a change of government.

Anwar is no stranger in these parts. He used to be MP for Permatang Pauh, the constituency next door and his hometown in neighbouring Penang state. That safe seat has been under the good care of his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat president and the Parliamentary Opposition leader.

Folks here speak the same Malay dialect which Anwar used to good effect in his Sunday night ceramah at the Chinese Recreation Club, cheering him on as he announced his plans to return to Parliament, his economic vision, the bad state of the economy and his defence in Sodomy II which mirrored Sodomy I that cost him a chance to be prime minister almost a decade ago.

Kulim Bandar Baharu is now represented by PKR's Zulkifli Noordin, Anwar's defence lawyer who is willing to give up the seat to return to his legal practice and Islamic missionary work. The man with the white cap and goatee, a sign of piety for Muslims, is facing an election petition from losing Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir.

An election court has set Aug 19 to hear the petition from Abdul Aziz, who wants a declaration that the result on March 8 is null and void as Zulkifli did not submit a statement of expenditure for his previous election contests. The Election Act stipulates that candidates who fail to submit their statement of expenditure can be disqualified from contesting future elections.

Why Anwar? After all, he has options from PKR Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's Bandar Tun Razak seat or Lingam video clip cameraman Loh Gwo Burne's Kelana Jaya constituency — both mixed urban seats suitable for the savvy and urbane Anwar who promises a New Malaysia for all and a federal government by Sept 16.

"The day I won (the seat on March 8), Anwar called to congratulate me. After saying thank you, I told him, 'Sir, this seat is yours if you want it'," Zulkifli told The Malaysian Insider, reiterating his need to return to professional work and his missionary life.

For Anwar, the parliamentary constituency is ideal as its two state seats — Kulim and Bandar Baharu — are represented by PKR and Pas, respectively. That would make it easier for him to care for the constituents even if he is busy making it to Putrajaya as the country's sixth prime minister.

Kulim state assemblyman Lim Soo Nee is thinking beyond Anwar winning the parliamentary seat; he is excited about having a prime minister from the constituency.

"This is good news for the people of Kulim. We have been waiting for more development for the past 50 years. There will be more opportunities here if Anwar becomes PM," he said.

He claimed that after Anwar made the announcement to contest in Kulim Bandar Baharu, he had received many calls from the public, offering to volunteer for the election campaign.

For the people, returning Anwar to Parliament has nothing to do with high ideals of democracy, freedom and justice. It's just the harsh realities of the economy.

"Everything is so expensive nowadays. The government cannot do anything. I think it's good if Anwar can win and maybe take over the government. I can't bear the high petrol price," tea stall owner Rahman told The Malaysian Insider. Business has been slow as people count their money to stretch their budgets these days.

A local businessman, who wished to be known only as Lai, said he was eagerly waiting for Anwar’s return to Parliament.

"With Anwar's international connection, I hope he can bring in more investments. I hope it can create an economic impact, especially in small towns like Kulim," he said.

He also believed that Anwar would not oppose the Chinese education system. "Chinese schools are not only for the Chinese, it is for all Malaysians," said Lai, a member of a local Chinese school board of governors.

But not everybody is impressed with Anwar.

Umno's Abdul Aziz, who lost to Zulkifli by a majority of 5,583 votes, cynically remarked that Anwar is a "superstar" in attracting a large number of people in his ceramah.

"Yes I heard there was a large turnout for his ceramah here but many were not from Kulim. You see, that was his first ceramah in the northern state since he was arrested (on July 16), of course his supporters from Padang Serai and even Permatang Pauh would come to hear him.

"But a by-election is a different ball game, it is not about large turnout," he said.

He is unfazed with Anwar's popularity, insisting that Umno and other BN component members had been working very hard since March 8 to serve the people — with a number of service centres being set up in the constituency.

Would he try his luck again if there's a by election? Abdul Aziz is unsure.

"It is still a long way to go but we are very confident of recapturing the seat."

Kulim Bandar Baharu has always been a BN stronghold until the electoral debacle of March 8. His brother former minister Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir held the parliamentary seat for 30 years since 1978 until Abdul Aziz was chosen as candidate for the recent general election.

Before this, Abdul Aziz was the state assemblyman for Kuala Ketil in the rice bowl state of Kedah, where he was also a state executive councillor.

If the election court upholds Abdul Aziz's petition, the Election Commission will decide on the election date within 10 days of the court decision.

Kulim Bandar Baharu has 51,444 registered voters — 34,667 or 67.93 per cent are Malays, Chinese 10,868 (21.13 per cent), Indians 5,907 (11.48 per cent) and others 2. There are 1,640 postal voters.

-TMI