The campaigns are getting hotter

As I am writing this, I can hear helicopter hovering around our Penang sky. We are such a small island and I live at the heart of the island. But usually, we won’t hear helicopter unless there is some big event.

Just a while ago, when I was driving back with my son, the road leading to the Penang General Hospital was closed to traffic, partially. Policemen are everywhere. Nice looking tents were put up at the car park. Rows of nicely coloured coordinated blue chairs were arranged.

Without doubt, it has to be Pak Lah visiting the hospital. And I bet the acting Health Minister OKT who is taking over our superstud Chua Soi Lek are there to shake hands and bait for the final votes.

A few minutes ago, my 12 years old son came into my room and told me, “Mommy today those people come to my school.” So, I asked him what people is he talking about. He explained those people that goes around shaking hands. LOL, kanasai, please tell me it is not those Barisan Nasional politicians going to school to campaign for the teachers’ votes? I asked him if they are DAP or blue cacing but my dear son said he was busy playing at the back of the class to see.

My area here is the hottest in Penang because Lim Guan Eng/Liew Chin Tong are fighting with Chia Kwang Chye and I don’t know who else. That’s why Lim Keng Yaik and Ong Ka Ting plus Pak Lah can come down to earth and visit those people at Rifle Range.

Please take a look at The Star paper front page and see the expression of those folks sitting there. The photo is here but you need a bigger print to see how bored and how disinterested those folks there are. This morning, when I look at it, I know there is a glimpse of hope. These people probably had made up their mind after hearing Anwar and Guan Eng the other day.

Abdullah, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik were greeted by thousands of people when they arrived at the flats.

Rifle Range, which has about 8,000 votes at stake, is in the heart of the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat and was the first high-rise project built some 40 years ago.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng became the main targets of the four Barisan leaders who in turn fired salvo after salvo at them.

They are probably wondering why Ong Ka Ting, Lim Keng Yaik and Pak Lah are slamming Anwar at the ceramah there. I wasn’t there, but I read in the paper and every article is about Anwar this, Anwar that. I am sure those old uncles and aunties probably are wondering “WTF, Anwar is not even in the election, WTF are you all pok-pek-pok-peking about lah?” Because majority of Rifle Range people are the lower income. Many cannot even afford TV. They only want to hear simple things. They only want to know that prices of a loaf of bread will not rise. They only want to know that rice is still within their means. The banner of Hishamudin waving his keris is enough to frighten every single Chinese and Indian here. (yes, we have banners of him opening his mouth with the keris) So, Anwar won’t frighten them. Hishamudin and UMNO do. Wrong strategy, BN leaders. You should hire me to help you draft your ceramah talks.

They should learn from RPK. Tailor your ceramah to your crowd. This is Raja Petra’s ceramah in Prai. Apparently, the police didn’t allow it but RPK went ahead because the talk was in Jalan Raja Tun Uda and that happens to be RPK’s grandfather and also first Governor of Penang. There are four parts and you can find them all here on DAP’s site.

So, let’s see tonight’s crowd can overtake the group of bored looking 8,000 at Rifle Range last night. 8 pm, Han Chiang, come in red clothes! Bring umbrella cos it looks like it is going to rain.