In or out, both are ‘winners’

(Malaysian Mirror) KUALA KRAI – In less than 24 hours, the more than 12,000 voters in Manik Urai will decide who they want as their wakil rakyat to succeed the late Ismail Yaacob, a five-term state assemblyman.

PAS is banking on fish wholesaler Fauzi Abdullah to defend the seat for the party while Umno has its stakes on Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat, an official of the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) who resigned from his post to contest in the by-election under the Barisan Nasional banner.

In Malaysian politics, whether the political parties want to admit it or not, there is always a trade-off at the outset of an electoral contest.

The person nominated to be the flag bearer of the party is almost assured he will be given a reward or an incentive in the form of a position which, if not immediately available, will be created for him in the event he loses the contest.

While the elected candidate will take his place in the state legislative assembly, the losing opponent would be walking off with a deal that could be even more rewarding than being a people’s representative.

Read more at: In or out, both are 'winners'