Tri-elections: Bkt Selambau independent might pull out

Fresh from submitting his nomination forms for the Bukit Selambau state seat, independent candidate Abdul Rahim Abu is already thinking of pulling out.
“I came into this contest because at the time I decided to run, there were no Malay candidates.
“I did it for the Malay spirit (Semangat Melayu). Now I see there are four other Malay candidates. I may talk with them about working together,” he told reporters after the nomination process concluded at Sekolah Menengah Teknik Sungai Petani I here Sunday.
Abdul Rahim, 47, said he would make a decision in three days.
Another independent candidate Mejar (Rtd) Anuar Abdul Hamid, 58, formerly from Umno, said he might return to his old political party if he wins the seat.
“If they don’t want me back, I am fine about remaining an independent as I am now,” he said.
Anuar said he left Umno in May last year after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed quit the party, along with several others of the latter’s supporters, after being a member for 20 years.
A. Jayagopal said he decided to run in the by-election because he believed he was the most suitable candidate.
“I speak Tamil, Malay, English and a little Chinese. I do not have communication problems when I speak to voters to understand their problems and needs,” he said.
Tan Hock Huat, the sole Chinese candidate, said he hoped to work harder from now on to win votes.
Mohd Fazil Abdul Wahab said he would seek out other independent candidates interested in sharing their resources during the campaign.
For Barisan Nasional’s candidate Datuk S. Ganesan, the 13 independents are an indication that the country is becoming more democratic.
“I am not going to be stressed out over this. I will just go on with my ‘man-to-man’ approach in my campaign,” he said.
PKR’s S. Manikumar said he promised to fight for his party’s aspirations in the by-election.