'Battle of professionals' in Kuala Kangsar by-election - Political analysts

The by-election has been dubbed 'a battle of professionals' based on the academic and professional background of all four candidates.

Barisan Nasional candidate Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid, 55, is a lawyer and had studied at Lincoln's Inn in United Kingdom and was a legal practitioner for six years.

PAS' Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, 50, has a degree in medicine and surgery from University of Malaya and once served as a medical officer at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah)'s Prof Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli, 62, is a former professor at the Physics Department, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and has a PhD in Medical Physics from University of Swansea, Wales.

Independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary, 49, is a former lecturer and has a degree in architecture from Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Universiti Utara Malaysia's political and international affairs senior lecturer Md Shukri Shuib said choosing a professional as their candidate, indicated that the contesting parties sensed what the constituents desired.

"It is a healthy competition and shows that Malaysia practises democracy," he told Bernama yesterday.

Nevertheless, he said, the candidates' professional background was not a guarantee that voters would elect them, as the latter might favour a representative who could fulfill their aspirations and resolve their problems.

"In this context, BN's machinery strategy must be unfaltering not just in attracting voters and their families, but also beyond, for the 14th general election," he said.

National Council of Professors' Governance, Law and Public Management Cluster chief Prof Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood said academic qualification would not necessarily give an edge to the candidates over their challengers.

"Voters are more interested in how far the candidates could be trusted to serve them," he said, adding, he personally believed that Mastura could win in the Kuala Kangsar by-election.

"As it would be tough for the opposition to manipulate local issues which are almost non-existent, they would likely play up national issues.

"But with proper explanation by the government on the national issues, I feel voters would be satisfied and will not diminish BN's potential to retain the seat," he said.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's geostrategist, Prof Dr Azmi Hassan concurred with Nik Ahmad Kamal, saying that Mastura would win even though she was not originally from Kuala Kangsar.

Although Mastura is from Negeri Sembilan, she has been living in Kuala Kangsar for more than 20 years and is familiar to the local community as she had often accompanied her late husband Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad to programmes in the constituency, he noted.

"I expect the voters to choose a candidate whom they are most familiar with and Mastura fits that description.

"Although the BN candidate cannot go out to campaign, it will not affect her chances as Kuala Kangsar has a Malay Muslim majority, who understand the religious law's requirement for her to observe iddah," he opined.

Mastura had earlier said that she would not be able to join the BN machinery to campaign as she must complete the remaining four months and 10 days of iddah.

The by-election on June 18 was called following the death of her husband in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.