They might be giant killers

They are, of course, the independent candidates.

This year, there are 270 independent candidates, the highest number ever in history, competing in multi-cornered fights between themselves, the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

This has certainly made the battle more exciting.

Some observers may feel that the independent candidates' role is to merely to give voters a fresh option, or to split the votes. However, these minnows also have big dreams of turning themselves into giant killer.

The question is can they surprise all and come out of the top to topple the giants?

Political analysts believe that some independent candidates may post a surprise victory, while admitting that odds are stacked against most other independent candidates.

They believe that with the exception of independent’s candidates like Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Pasir Mas), Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Sharif Omar (Tasek Gelugor), Sim Tong Him (Kota Laksamana), Jenice Lee (Teratai) and N.Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai) who have a big reputation and track record and chance to emerging as a winner, the chances of other lesser-known independent candidates becoming the ‘giant-killer’ looked slim.

Political analyst Professor Madya Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff told Astro Awani that it is hard for the independent candidates to be a ‘giant-killer’ as some of them are lesser-known in the area and do not have a proper campaign strategy to wooing the people.

“Some of them with big and great reputation nationwide might have a chance but in reality, it is hard for them to be a ‘giant-killer’ unless they have a proper and good campaign and can ‘fish-out’ the fence-sitter vote,” he said.

In 2008, PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar and PSM's Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj emerged as 'giant-killers' by beating Lembah Pantai and Sungai Siput incumbent, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abd Jalil and Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu, respectively.

However, they were contesting under a flag of a party which helped them garner the votes.

This election, there are 17 independent candidates contesting for parliamentary seat and 38 independents contesting for state seats in Selangor.

Some of the areas will be having between three and four corner contests but there are also areas will be having extraordinary multi-cornered fight between five and six candidates.

Kapar parliamentary seat is the only seat in Selangor that is going to have six way battle between candidates the three independents; Norhamzah Suratman, R.Palaya and Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz who will face three others candidates from BN’s A.Sakhtivel, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s G.Manivannan and a lesser-known party, Berjasa candidate, Mohd Pathan Husin.

In Subang, another multi-cornered fight will be staged with five candidates including two from independents are in the fray. Independent’s Eddros Abdullah and Nazaruddin Mohamed Ferdoos will be slowly making their move in the midst of the battle between BN’s A. Prakash Rao, PKR and incumbent of the seat, R.Sivarasa and an unknown Berjasa candidate, Mohamad Ismail.

Kota Damansara and Kajang state seat are two seats that will be going to have six candidates including three from independents ‘lock-horn’ to see who will be the next state assemblyman for the area.

In Kota Damansara, the battle also will be much more dramatic when there will be also a duel between two PR’s component party, PKR and Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS).

As the situation is likely to give a boost for the BN’s only woman candidate for the seat, Halimaton Saadiah Bohan, three others Independents candidates, Eddros Abdullah who also contesting for Subang parliamentary seat, A.Suppiah and Halmi Omar will try their luck to come out of the top in the midst of the collision between Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) president and incumbent of the seat, Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim who contesting under PKR’s ticket and PAS’s Ustaz Ridzuan Ismail who is said to be the PAS Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s endorsement candidate.

In Kajang, Mohd Khalid Kassim, Ong Yan Foo and Ir. Mohd Iwan Jefry Abdul Majid are trying to prove themselves as the great Independent candidates who are going to have a head-to-head battle with BN’s Lee Ban Seng, PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh and Berjasa’s Mohamad Ismail.

In Kuala Terengganu, Independent’s Maimun Yusuf, 94 or better known as Tok Mun is set to be the oldest candidate contesting for election as she will be contesting for Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat for second time facing the ‘giants’ like BN’s Mohd Zubir Embong and PAS’s Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah while in Tanjong Karang, a dangdut singer, Masrun Tamsi or better known as Herman Tino is trying whether his popularity can beat out the reputation of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Noh Omar and PAS candidate, Mohamad Rashdi Deraman.

While some may brand these independent candidates as jokers, spoilers and to a certain extend, crazy, these candidates may nevertheless also be the perfect candidate to represent the constituency as they are deemed to be "closer" to the grassroots, the rakyat.

While odds are against these less-funded independent candidates, Eddros (contesting for Subang parliamentary seat) believe that it is not impossible of an independent candidate to become a ‘giant-killer’.

“I am a local lad here in Subang and Kota Damansara and I am representing the voice of the grassroots and the community. In my constituency, there is no single local people being uphold or selected to represent the area. Both candidates from BN and PR are outsiders.

"Therefore, to be a ‘giant-killer’ is not an impossible dream for the Independent candidates because only I have been known by the local for so long ,” said Eddros.

Subang Independent candidate, Nazaruddin Mohamed Ferdoos said to contest in a big seat like Subang parliamentary seat is a big task but will not a problem to face some well-known candidate like PKR’s R.Sivarasa.