Merlimau & Kerdau NSTLive Replay

The Merlimau & Kerdau finally ended after an almost 2-week campaigning by both Barisan Nasional and Pas candidates and its machineries. An almost subdued Merlimau and a more sizzling Kerdau by-election came out with BN the winner.

May we meet again in a by-election or in Sarawak polls? Or General Election even? Only time will tell. But it was a swell bringing you live updates and keeping you updated with the ongoings of the Merlimau by-election.

So till we meet again... Adios! :-)))

Bigger majorities for BN

By  Badrolhisham Bidin, Jason Gerald John and M. Hamzah Jamaluddin

news@nst.com.my

Barisan Nasional kept up the momentum of impressive by-election performances with improved-majority wins in Merlimau and Kerdau. 

Equally significant was the higher voter turnout of 83 per cent in Kerdau (up from 80.3 per cent in 2008) and 79 per cent in Merlimau (compared with 76.18 per cent in 2008).

BN-Umno has thus inflicted four consecutive by-election defeats on Pas which also lost to the ruling coalition in Galas (Nov 4) and Tenang (Jan 30). Pas has not won a by-election since the Permatang Pasir contest in August 2009. BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was in Merlimau for the announcement, described the two wins as “a great victory”.

As for the detailed results, the Kerdau majority rose from 1,615 to 2,724 with BN’s Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, 44, polling 5,060 votes against Pas’ Hasanuddin Salim’s 2,336. Hasanuddin, 43, the Pahang Pas information chief, had in the March 2008 general election lost the contest for the seat to the late Datuk Zaharuddin Abu Kassim of BN.

Returning officer Datuk Tarif Abdul Rahman announced the result at Dewan Tun Razak at 8.20pm.

A celebratory mood in the BN camp was apparent from as early as 6pm and they erupted into loud cheers when the confirmed result was announced by Tarif. Syed Ibrahim and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, the BN director for the by-election, were mobbed by BN supporters after the announcement.

Syed Ibrahim, who was the Kuala Krau Umno division vice-head, thanked all BN workers for helping him to clinch victory. “I will commit myself to serve the people in Kerdau.” In Merlimau, Roslan Ahmad garnered 5,962 votes against Yuhaizad Abdullah’s 2,319, producing a 3,643- vote majority. The late BN assemblyman, Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abdul Hassan, won in 2008 with a 2,154-vote majority. The result was announced by returning officer Roslan Eusoff at 8.15pm.

Moments after the announcement at Politeknik Merlimau, Roslan thanked the BN leadership, voters and party machinery, saying he had felt the growing support for BN during campaigning.

“I promise to ensure Merlimau will be more developed in line with the chief minister’s aim to make Malacca a developed state.” Of particular interest was the low voter turnout in Chin Chin, Yuhaizad’s own kampung, and the record turnout in Merlimau Pasir, Roslan’s hometown.

Roslan, a Jasin Umno committee member, cast his vote at SK Merlimau 1 with his wife, Siti Zalifah Omar, while Jasin Pas deputy chief Yuhaizad, who was not a registered voter in Merlimau, accompanied his mother to vote in Chin Chin.

Yuhaizad and Pas supporters were absent during the announcement.

Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, when contacted, said Pas accepted the defeat and would carr y out a post-mortem as its loss in all voting areas was “very serious”.

“We need to identify the reasons.” Good weather contributed to the high voter turnout. Merlimau’s 79 per cent turnout (out of 10,679 voters) almost matched the Election Commission’s projection of an 80 per cent turnout.

The Kerdau figure surpassed the commission’s 80 per cent.

Merlimau and Kerdau's contests were the 15th and 16th by-elections since the 2008 general election.

1Malacca, 1Way

The one-way road near Dataran Pahlawan, Bandar Hilir, Malacca

By Zarina Zakariah
zarinaz@nst.com.my
NSTpix by Zarina Zakariah

Among the first things you will notice upon arriving in Malacca, are the many one-way roads when going into and around the Malacca town. Tourists and outsiders might find it mind-boggling to rummage their way around Malacca and get to their near-yet-so-far destination.

One wrong turn and you might find yourself in Semabok, a town near to Bandar Hilir, the city centre of Malacca. But if you are here for leisure, you might even find the 'tour' around town a great way to see new places in Malacca, and even enjoy it ...:-)



So if you are planning to come to Malacca, so get your maps ready and ask the hotel reception for detailed directions to the places you are planning to go. Otherwise you might end up paying more for the cabs which mostly do not use meters. Surprisingly, non-metered taxis were reported to be more expensive rather than metered!

So gear up, be prepared and enjoy Malacca in its rustic and beautiful way, as it has always been...:-)

Malacca's very own heritage home

By Shuhada Elis

shuhadaelis@nst.com.my
NST pix by Badrolhisham Bidin

If you happen to pass by the road in Padang Temu, Malacca, you might be curious to see a signage that says “Rumahku Muziumku” (My Home, My Museum).

The area does not look like a tourist attraction spot as only terrace houses and a school can be seen at the sides of the road.

 But you cannot help but be awed once you are in front of the 29-year-old house owned by antiques collector Nordin Ali.

From the lawn to the very end of the kitchen, the house is filled with more than one thousand of antique stuff, ranging from brassware to furniture, jewelleries, weapons, and even bridal beds and accessories of Malay, Baba Nyonya and Chitty couples.

Some of them worth thousands of ringgit and are more than 400 years old.

Some of the antiques in the museum

The stuff are arranged and displayed neatly but there are so many that it is sometimes hard to walk inside the house without worrying that you might knock something down.

Seventy-three-year-old Nordin, who started collecting the materials since the past 30 years, speaks fondly of his prized possessions.

 “I have written a will so that my children will take good care of my belongings until they are passed down to the next generations. Nothing should be taken out from this house, ever,” he said.

The will is handwritten, framed and hung at the side wall near the door for visitors to read and for family members to always remember and respect Nordin’s love and passion for his collections.

The government retiree has eight children, 26 grandchildren and five great grandchildren but he only lives in the house with his wife Maznah Ali, 52.

His children are all married and live outside Malacca.

Keris collection

Asked about where the couple sleeps at night because all the three rooms in the house are heavily decorated, Nordin said: “We are Malay so we sleep in the Malay bridal room. But it is quite a tiring work for my wife because she has to make up the room every morning.”

The couple receives only five to six visitors a day because Nordin does not want his possessions to go missing. So far he has lost about 30 stuff including an old keris which was hung at his wall.

But he is also wondering whether the keris actually “made its way home” to the place where it belongs.

“Sometimes antique stuff are rather mysterious. Some of them are ‘alive’,” he said, adding that his wife could not sleep when she first came to the house.

“I feel like there is someone else at home and I kept hearing things but they disappeared after a while. Perhaps I was regarded as an outsider then,” Maznah said.

Nowadays, Maznah too shares Nordin’s passion and helps to dust off the items whenever possible. She also enjoys daily conversation they have with visitors, explaining about the history of the collections.

Among the most expensive stuff Nordin has bought are a huge chandelier and a gramophone which are worth almost RM3,000.

Some, like a RM45,000 Baba Nyonya bed, are acquired through barter system with his Chinese friend who owns a heritage hotel in the state.

Antique weighing scale used trading in the 50s

Nordin is also a proud owner of a 100-year-old radio and telephones which are still working.

He is considered lucky as antique lovers and sellers know where to find him. Most of the time, the stuff they sold are below market price because they know that he would take good care of them, just like his own children.

The home museum was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam on Feb 2002. It is open from 10am to 10pm daily except on Friday. Admission is free but contributions are welcomed.

Malacca cabbies, no meter please

By Ling Poh Lean
lplean@nst.com.my

If you are a first timer in Malacca and need a taxi service, make sure you get the one without a meter.

As I am dependent on taxis in Kuala Lumpur, it was a shock to me that travelling in a metered taxi would cost more than those without meters, according to a taxi driver.

Back in Kuala Lumpur, I refuse to hop in a cab unless the driver turns on the meter. I thought, it should be the same here in Malacca.

After a few attempts to get a metered taxi, I gave up and got into one without a meter this morning for an assignment in Merlimau.

Out of curiosity, I asked the driver, why his colleagues refused to turn on the meter.

Michael, the driver, immediately knew that I was not local.

He claimed Malaccans did not like metered taxis as it could cost double than those without a meter.

In fact, he said, hotel staff would advise tourists they should avoid taxis with meter when travelling around Malacca town.

He then told me of an experience, where a group of passengers had refused to get into his taxi to go to Kuala Lumpur International Airport unless he turned on the meter.

He then told them he did not have a meter installed in his taxi. He then offered to call his friend who was driving a metered taxi.

The customers were shocked that they have to pay double the price from what Michael had offered them earlier.

According to Michael, the fare for a metered taxi in Malacca starts at RM6, which is double compared to KL taxis.

I was not sure if this is true but one thing for sure getting a metered taxi in Malacca Historical city is not as easy as in KL.

Instant stalls debut

By Ling Poh Lean

lplean@nst.com.my
Pix by Ling Poh Lean

The Merlimau by-election is a boon to many locals.

Expecting a bumper crop from hordes of outsiders thronging the constituency, many set up foodstalls, some even in the compound of their homes.

Hassan Kadir’s temporarily food stall with a simple banner set up to serve the by-election in Merlimau.

One of the enterprising locals, Hassan Kadir decided to join in the crowd and found a place, less than one kilometre from the Barisan Nasional operations centre.

Together with his siblings in-law, the 53-year old welder spent some RM3,000 to rent tents and cooking utensils and set up base in the compound of a relative's house.

"My late mother used to make roti canai when she was young. She was the first Malay woman in Merlimau to be a roti canai maker and over the years, I learned the trade from her," he said.

Hassan Kadir, 53, is tosses roti canai at his temporary food stall in Merlimau.

Hassan who used to be a photographer with the police force said they opened for business two weeks before the nomination day and will close shop on Mar 5, a day before polling.

His stall is also close to Politeknik Merlimau, where nomination was held and he hoped students will flock to his outlet.

“The idea crossed my mind after I heard about the death of our assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan. I love to dabble in business and thought why not set up an instant foodstall to make some money.

“After discussing with family members, we all agreed to give it a try. And so, all the workers here are my family members – wife, children, mother-in-law and sisters-in-law,” he told New Straits Times reporters who happened to stop by for dinner recently.

The food stall which has a banner with the slogan “Kena Sekali Pasti Nak Lagi” (Once tried, you will ask for more) serves local food delicacies such as roti canai, nasi lemak and mixed rice.

Merlimau nomination Feb 26

The nearby food court flocked with sudden rise in customers.  

BN supporters gathered to show support for BN candidate.

PAS party leaders while waiting for the candidates to be announced.

PAS supporters chanting and singing during the nomination process.

By Zarina Zakariah

zarinaz@nst.com.my

Pix by Zarina & Ling Poh Lean

5.30 am. That was how early we started for the Merlimau nomination this morning.

Eyes barely open, the four of us sluggishly headed to the car and headed towards Merlimau. Once there, we were stuck thinking what to do now that we were at there. Since the objective was to get past the road block location,  once we did, err... there was nothing to do but wait. It was 6.15am then.

So what's the best thing to do when you are tired, it's dark and cold and have nothing to do? SLEEP of course! LOL... So slept we did, (except yours truly, for fear I would not be able to wake up), until 7 something. I had the chance of watching the sun rise...which was a very rare occasion for me since I was never a morning person.

While my colleagues were deep in their slumber, I walked to the nearest restaurant to get a drink. It was a full house. The restaurant owner, not knowing how to handle the sudden spike of  customers, was busy walking back and forth scratching his head! My, what by-election can do to a small town like Merlimau...:-)

Anyway, we headed to the nomination centre at the Politeknik Melaka where traffic was already starting to get busy and head to the food court to have our breakfast. There on we could hear a chopper circling the Merlimau by SPR. Balloons, posters everywhere... The by-election is in the second gear.

Supporters gathered before the nomination centre at their respective spots before marching towards the nomination centre with their party candidate. Such were the spirit of supporters, no untoward incidents occurred. The usual chantings from both parties could be heard but due to the 100 metres separation, it did not spark any fights or exchange of words. 

But Malacca is one hot state. Hot as in searingly hot! It was a wonder how the supporters remained rooted to their gathering spots in the direct heat of the sun. 

At  9am, the registration period started and ended at 10am with 2 nomination papers from BN and PAS each. Candidates Roslan Ahmad and Yuhaizad Abdullah both submitted their nomination papers and were declared contesting candidates in a straight fight after an hour of objection period. 

So on March 6, let us see who wins the N.27 Merlimau seat. And from tonight onwards, let the fun begins...:-)