'If only Mah was not from BN'

First, some would just look away, shake their head, or just walk away. The second type of reaction would be those who would drop hints, but when it comes revealing their choice, they would insist on keeping their lips sealed.

The third and last type of response would be those who would not bat an eyelid when extolling the many virtues of their favourite candidate or party, or conversely, the listing down the flaws of the other side. Those, usually, don’t mind just going on and on talking.

So when this Astro AWANI reporter walked around the small town of Teluk Intan, bordered by rivers on all sides, it was indeed a colourful experience hearing from people on the streets about the titanic battle about to unfold tomorrow.

Without a doubt, the DAP’s candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud has attracted the most attention between the two candidates during the two-week long campaigning period.

This was evident wherever Dyana Sofya went. She is swarmed by incessant requests for ‘selfies’ and signatures on t-shirts.

“Leng lui ah! Leng lui ah! (Pretty girl! Pretty girl!)” says lady stall owner at a pasar malam after Dyana Sofya passes by her.

“She is prettier in real person. I would surely vote for her, she seems quite capable,” says another trader selling clothes.

Just a few stalls away at the same event, a man closes his eyes and holds his hands up to the skies and seems to murmur a prayer. He looks distressed and looks down, not letting his eyes look toward the crowd surrounding Dyana Sofya.

“No. Just no. No, no,” repeats the man, sternly, without explaining, but the small BN flag stuck to his bicycle gives a hint of his leanings.

“Dyana is OK. Mah Siew Keong (BN’s candidate) is also OK… But I think Dyana is more OK because she brings new blood. Mah is an old horse,” says a corn shop owner, seeming sheepish about his political choice.

Near a field where Dyana Sofya was launching a book, two old men watched from afar. One said: “We all know him. His party. He is a local boy and indeed he is a very nice man.” The other continued what the first man was saying: “But, too bad. He is on the wrong side.”

Both old men smiled, making it obvious on who they would vote for.

An for a young man who was busy manning a stall during Dyana Sofya’s walkabout, he smiled and mulled over the questions this reporter posed to him.

"I’m not old enough to vote. But I know I’ll vote BN. Why? I don’t know. I think because BN has been here for a very long time. They have the experience,” the man said.

At another event, Mah walked among a small crowd, shaking hands.

“Why would we vote for this young girl? She is so new. What does she know about us? About Teluk Intan? I am confident Mah will bring development,” said a woman after meeting Mah.

Another, a couple, said Mah has never left the community, despite claims by some that he was distant after he lost.

“It’s definitely going to be Mah. He was the one who helped us. My wife, when she was sick... he helped us get through,” said the man, holding his wife who nodded in agreement.

At the side of the road, a woman said she was happy that her town was getting so much attention but she smiled shyly to the question. “My vote remains a secret,” she said.