FINALLY, the long-awaited by-election of a Negeri Sembilan’s state seat, Rantau, was confirmed.

Its incumbent, who is a likeable political leader of the day, has to accept the fact that he will be facing his first by-election under his name and sixth one in the era of New Malaysia.

Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan or Tok Mat has been familiarly known as a loveable politician since he stood as a chief minister of Negeri Sembilan.

Even he was not so popular like his deputy for UMNO Rembau division, Khairy Jamaluddin, his contributions towards the state’s development couldn’t be unforgotten.

But in politics, for a politician, being liked doesn’t guarantee electoral victory.

Budiman Zohdi, who was an one-term MP for Sungai Besar failed to retain his seat he won in a by-election held years ago, was a likeable politician in the constituency.

Because of the mammoth pressures of unseating the previous regime, he was politically infected, and his existence in local politics is now a history.

No one wants to join politics for free. A politician would have an ambition of being entrusted with political positions or portfolios that can make his or her political journey a meaningful memorial.

Even being a 7-day deputy minister can be made a bedtime story for our grandchildren.

Being Tok Mat is different. He used to tell me in person in his room at PWTC that he had never dreamed of being a political leader, and in fact, he was a reluctant politician even after standing in the mainstream arena of politics as the chief minister of the state he was born in.

The ejection of BN from the political clout had also unseated him from the MB seat he held for about 14 years since I was a 14-year-old secondary school student.

Initially, after May 9, I predicted that he would discontinue politics and do business.

Unexpectedly, he still alive in politics and offered himself to serve for the party’s top leadership as deputy president.

Correct me if I’m wrong that he is the first UMNO politician in history, who is not an MP, that holds the No.2 party echelon.

That ‘uniqueness’ has made him to be a rare leader of the long-serving Malay party whom people demand to supplant Ahmad Zahid Hamidi immortally.

Now, he has to be in another by-election not just as a top head of the party but also as a candidate.

He is the only by-election candidate of BN with the status of “incumbent”, unlike others who were replaced by new faces.

The question is, who will be named by Pakatan Harapan?

To me, if PH is very serious about winning the Rantau by-election, they must place prominently-known national politician who has fortes in social politics.

A candidate who has genuine degree in politics, philosophy and economics from a globally-wowed university is not enough.

As a voter from the constituency, I am very cognisant of the taste of the constituents in choosing leaders.

Even the political scenes are now in different colours, most of them still want to be led by Tok Mat, an approachable leader whom they believe can friendly mingle with villagers.

To be frank, in my opinion, if PH puts outsiders to contest against the acting president of UMNO, PH will definitely lose.

So, PH needs, before the Election Commission announces the election date, to do early homeworks of finding out best-in-class political or social figures who have competitive advantages to be on the ring.

Unseating Tok Mat from Rantau is not melodious, or rudely I can say, fictional, if candidates who have the guts to stand against him are strange and foreign.

But like I said, in politics, every scene has its plot twist — we never know the expiry date of a politician. Everything and everyone has ending.

This “opinion” is not just a plain opinion. Of course, as a writer and also a so-called young voter of the constituency, I want the best for the people.

I am not residing there 24-7, but Rantau was the place where I was grown as a small child.

If PH’s candidate can do greater than Tok Mat, why not?

I am not sure how does PH look at the Rantau by-election, but if I’m in the shoes of its top echelons, I will straightly erase suggested names who don’t have any relation with the place, especially its people.

In a love relationship, a pair does need strong chemistry to live a happy relationship.

Similarly in politics, if voters don’t know you, how could they smile at you? If they don’t smile at you, how could they love you? If they don’t love you, how could they elect you?

We don’t vote for flags in by-elections. Not in Rantau.


* The writer is a yuppie working in the cosmopolitan city of Kuala Lumpur. Writing is his passion.

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.