The Star Online: Metro: South & East

Attracting voters everywhere
Teoh and Lim meet and go separate ways at temple function
MCA publicity truck vandalised at residential area

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:04 PM PDT

BATU PAHAT: It's "flagging-off" time. Several villages in Batu Pahat are adorned with flags of political parties, giant makeshift displays of various sizes and shapes, ranging from the ordinary to the bizarre, amidst the hot contests in several constituencies in Johor.

Thousands of flags were seen hoisted along main roads, most in the most of replicas depicting the logos of the political parties to attract attention of voters ahead of the May 5 general election.

In Parit Jalil, warships and warplanes were erected and covered with flags of political parties whereas in Jalan Simpang Lama in Parit Sulong, makeshift windmills, sampan and cannon car using party flags can be seen.

An 8m high red-coloured rocket was constructed using oil drums in Taman Maju with several smaller sized rockets also built in other housing areas in Batu Pahat town.

A resident Zalelah Yahya, 42, said it was fun to see so many replicas such as war planes, warships, rockets and others along the roads.

"It is the first time we get to see such things along Jalan Parit Jalil. In the last general election we only saw flags hung out," she said, adding that residents would go and have a look at the displays whenever they are here.

"Many of the replicas were made by local residents and some of them are so creative and are even lighted up and can be clearly seen at night," she said.

Zalelah said the most of the flags and replicas were put up since last week and it had become a talk among the residents when sitting in the coffeeshops or at other "joints".

Another resident, who declined to be named, said the creativity of the advertising works by respective party does not reflect the quality of one party or candidacy.

"We already know who we want to vote and, to us, those replicas are merely entertainment," he said.

A DAP party supporter, who did not want to be identified, said a group of party enthusiasts and residents have worked together to build the giant rockets to show their support towards the party.

Teoh and Lim meet and go separate ways at temple function

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:04 PM PDT

JOHOR BARU: It was a rare sight indeed when Gelang Patah MCA chairman Jason Teoh came face to face with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang while visiting a function at a Chinese temple here last week.

Both men are set to go on a head-to-head battle to win the hearts of the voters and secure the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat for the general election.

Although not officially named as a candidate, Teoh, who has been campaigning in the area for more than one year, quickly walked up to the veteran politician and extended his hand with a wide smile.

Although both men did not speak to each other, they smiled warmly and politely posed for photographs while floats drove along and beats of the gong went off in the background.

Several minutes later, both men parted ways and continued greeting the devotees.

Teoh was seen accompanying the procession from the temple in Taman Harmoni 1 here while Lim was seen speaking to some of the people and later leaving the function.

State DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau was also seen accompanying Lim throughout the visit.

MCA publicity truck vandalised at residential area

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:04 PM PDT

LABIS: Speakers and the light-emitting diode (LED) lights fixed on a MCA election publicity truck were found damaged yesterday.

The Ford Ranger used by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry deputy minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong was parked outside a residential area here when it was vandalised.

Chua's secretary Quah Lian Sh'ng found the LED lights and two units of speakers destroyed when he left his hostel about 10am.

Quah said he did not know who was the person or people responsible for such act and would leave it to the police to investigate.

He had lodged a police report at the Labis police station here.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Selasa, 16 April 2013