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Wooing <b>Felda</b> settlers | The Nut Graph

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT

By Danny Lim | 30 April 2013 | | Print This Post

FELDA plantations, traditionally the stronghold of the Barisan Nasional (BN), by their very design are not easy to penetrate if one is an outsider. The scheme resettled the rural poor to own and work on undeveloped land far away from high-density areas. This created a tightly knit rural community of farmers very protective of their government-endowed land.

It used to be that political campaigners from the opposition found it impossible and dangerous to venture into Felda territory. In February 2012 for example, rowdy BN supporters turned up to disrupt a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ceramah in a Felda settlement where Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kota Melaka Member of Parliament Sim Tong Him were speaking.

But just on 23 April 2013, the PKR branch in the state seat of Machap in Malacca organised a ceramah where Anwar would speak deep inside Felda Tun Ghafar Hutan Percha. The PKR candidate in Machap laughs at what she feels is an anachronistic notion today. "If you help the (constituents) and respect them, it's safe," says Ginie Lim.

The seat she is vying for is one out of seven state seats in Malacca that PKR is contesting. Lim is facing MCA candidate Datuk Lai Meng Chong, who is the incumbent, and Kita candidate Ravinther Sekaran. In 2008, Lim lost to Lai by 1,639 votes.

Machap's constituency comprises 11,711 voters, out of which 43% are Chinese, 41% Malay, and 14% Indian Malaysians. PKR is also contesting three parliamentary seats in Malacca.

: Felda plantations are often solely accessible by a single road, which become a vital choke point during campaign season.

: In a little earthern nook carved into a slope, PKR has set up a tent for their base of operations at Felda Hutan Percha.

: As the evening rain churns the earth into brown goo, PKR party workers huddle for cover while preparing for the night's ceramah in this state constituency of Machap, which is located within the parliamentary constituency of Alor Gajah.

: Ginie Lim is the PKR candidate running in the state seat of Machap in Malacca. The second-time election contender is currently the party's media coordinator.

: Local community speakers warm up the crowd with strident exhortations that are effectively extended chants.

: A huge layer of canvas is laid out over the mud for the audience who typically prefer to hang around the edges, shy as they are to be front and centre.

: Eventually when the Bersih 2.0 representatives speak on voting do's and don'ts, the crowd gingerly inches forward, straining to see what could inadvertently spoil their vote.

: The PKR candidate for the Machap state seat waits her turn to speak at her own ceramah, amid modest conditions.

: The crowd is evenly proportioned in terms of ethnicity, with some of the Chinese Malaysian attendees travelling from the nearby town of Machap Umboo, an Emergency-era New Village.

: Every Malaysian can duduk bersila, something that is taken for granted in this part of the world. Election-season ceramah, especially with the promise of a big name appearance, get people of all ages making the effort to spend their night listening to politicians – not the kind of entertainment you'd expect to be popular among the youth.

: The Orang Asli who also have their own housing at Felda Hutan Percha are not very easy to persuade to join PKR's cause. Ginie Lim spent the pre-ceramah evening campaigning there to a muted response.

: Party workers light the way for Anwar as he walks up to the ceramah spot.

: An inconsistent power supply and little ambient light leave some of the crowd in the dark.

: The couple of hundred who turned up start to cram into spaces that were earlier left unoccupied, the chance to catch a glimpse of Opposition Leader Anwar exceeding their social reserve.

: The main road linking Felda Hutan Percha with the rest of the world is lit up by the sudden deluge of cars – partly from the politicians and their entourage, and partly by supporters and curio-seekers.

: DAP and PKR shared the night's ceramah, with their young candidates backed up by the older stalwarts.

: Hoisting smartphones aloft is the not-so-new, inescapable trend, even in Felda Hutan Percha.

: Anwar's oratory prowess is well-known, but there remain many who have not experienced his beguiling ways when working a crowd.

: Anwar breaks into a song that pokes fun at his adversaries. Not many can entertain such a diverse crowd.

: PKR Machap provided a canvas sheet but everyone knows well enough to bring newspapers to avoid dirtying their bums.

: Ceramah audiences rarely "give face" to supporting acts that come after the headliners – here they disappear into the night very quickly after Anwar has "left the building". But a few stragglers stay back to enjoy, or rather stand and stare quietly as Blues Gang vocalist Ito sings a song.