PENANTI : Saya seperti kucing melawan Harimau - Nai Khan

Lee Wei Lian @ The Malaysian Insider

Penanti, May 24 - To say that independent candidate Nai Khan Ari faces an uphill battle in his bid to win the Penanti by-election would be an understatement.

The state constituency is part of Permatang Pauh, the homeground and political fortress of opposition icon and PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In his walkabout at a market this morning, many of the traders and customers rated the independent candidate's chances at best as a minor vote splitter in the fight between PKR and two other independents."This is a PKR fortress," one couple having their breakfast at the market told The Malaysian Insider.

"Tapi tengok nasib lah, mana tau dapat (maybe he'll get lucky)," the wife said charitably but with a doubtful smile.

A fishmonger said Nai has no realistic chance. "Mungkin pecah undi sikit (maybe he'll split a few votes)," he said.

The only positive assessment was given by a stall worker from whom Nai bought some salted eggs and dried fish.

"He may have a chance. People now look for who can serve them best and do the work. For example, someone like Arif Shah," he said, referring to Umno's state lawmaker in Seberang Jaya who faced off against Anwar in the Permatang Pauh by-election last year.

But Nai, whose gracious manners are a reflection of his Siamese heritage, is not giving up and dutifully shook hands with almost everyone in the market, asking them to "bagi saya peluang (please give me a chance)".

He told reporters later that he thinks Penanti is suffering from neglect and that he really wants to serve but acknowledged the odds stacked against him.

"I am like a cat fighting a tiger," he said when asked about his chances of winning.

"But I am not afraid."Nai says he resigned from Gerakan as he was disappointed that BN was not contesting the by-election.

Asked if he will rejoin BN in the future, Nai says that he sees his future as an independent politician.

The factory manager lives in nearby Teluk Wang and also just bought a home in Lunas a few kilometres away.

He says he is a true blue Penantian, having grown up here.

Unfortunately, such ties are unlikely to help him much and the "tiger" will almost certainly win Penanti comfortably, if conventional wisdom is anything to go by.