BN's Arif: 'Who can defeat Anwar? I can

It is not rocket science to figure out between Anwar Ibrahim and Arif Shah Omar Shah - the two prospective candidates for the Permatang Pauh by-election - who is the Goliath, but the seeming ‘underdog' has his slingshot ready for an improbable win.
"I am confident of winning even if not by an overwhelming majority," Arif Shah - the Barisan Nasional candidate-designate - declared last night, an opening shot in his bid to wrest the seat from PKR in the Aug 26 by-election.
He added that Anwar - instead of contesting in Permatang Pauh - should be contesting in Kuala Lumpur since the PKR leader was now Klang Valley based.
He told reporters this after he was named last night as the ruling coalition's choice for the by-election at the ruling coalition's election machinery launch by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
In the March general election, PKR's Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail defended her seat with a thumping 13,398-majority, downing BN's Pirdaus Ismail for the second consecutive time - retaining the Anwar family's 26-year stranglehold of the seat.
A surprised candidate
The 52-year-old Arif Shah - who is also the Seberang Jaya state assemblyperson - said his selection was unexpected.
He broke into tears hearing the announcement, and his supporters were up on their feet applauding him. It is not BN's norm to select a by-election candidate who is already holding office- in a state assembly or Parliament.
The candidate nevertheless took the podium without haste and declared his readiness for the uphill battle, to the approval of the 1,500-odd BN supporters gathered..
In his short speech - punctuated with Mandarin sentences - he asked voters to give BN a chance and pledged to serve all communities equally.
The Umno man, popular among locals, is known for his constituency services and can speak fluent Mandarin, an advantage in BN's bid to woo back Chinese voters.
He successfully defended his state seat in the last general election, whilst his Umno colleagues faltered.
Seberang Jaya is one of three state seats under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat. The other two - Permatang Pasir and Penanti - are presently held by PAS and PKR respectively.
Later, Najib denied that the decision to pick Arif Shah as a clever strategy to swing Chinese votes back, saying: "We want to swing all votes, not just the Chinese votes."
‘Backstabbing' within Umno?
Apart from having to contend with Anwar's popularity in Permatang Pauh, the other challenge to Ariff Shah is to manage the local Umno division's internal politics - and possible squabbles.
There are fears of ‘backstabbing' the candidate in lieu of the various competing factions for power at the division election, to be held somewhere between Oct 9 and Nov 9.
Vying for the coveted division chief post are the trio of Arif Shah, current chief Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid and his deputy, Pirdaus.
Division leadership contests are highly charged in overall party election years - as they determine the voting delegates at the general assembly, to be held in December.
Which is why Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, appeared rather cautious in his choice of words before announcing the candidate last night and repeatedly reminded party members to set aside internal politics while campaigning.
He implored for unity and apologised if the chosen candidate did not meet everyone's expectations.
The deputy prime minister made it clear that the candidate choice has no bearing on the divisional election.
"When we name this candidate, it doesn't mean we are also endorsing him as the division chief.
"The divisional politics should be set aside. In our mind, there should be only thing that is to strive for our victory on Aug 26," he said to the applause from those present.
"If everyone stays loyal and support BN, the impossible might just happen this time," Najib alluding to the ruling coalition's chances in winning the PKR's stronghold.
Among those present last night include Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor, information chief Muhd Muhammad Taib, Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein, Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon and MCA Penang chief Liow Tiong Lai.
The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant after its incumbent Wan Azizah vacated it on July 31 to allow her husband Anwar to contest as a way back to Parliament.
Nomination is on Aug 16, this coming Saturday.
There are 58,459 voters in the constituency - of which 490 are postal voters - as of July 31.



Arif Shah: People-Friendly Leader

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Every morning, the lively and friendly Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and wife Latifah Asmawi will spend time breakfasting at Medan Selera Seberang Jaya not far from their house on Persiaran Tenggiri, Seberang Jaya.
The Seberang Jaya assemblyman since the 2004 general election will use the time to call from one table to another and exchange greetings with the patrons of over 20 stalls selling a wide variety of Malay, Indian and Chinese dishes, and this gives them the opportunity to raise their problems with him without having to come to his service centre.
A Permatang Pauh resident who wanted to be known only as Zainuddin, said Arif Shah's selection as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to take on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the upcoming by-election, was "right".
"Datuk Arif is a true community leader and always on the go to help the people of all walks of life. He is a leader acceptable to the people," he told Bernama here Thursday.
For Gan Lee Sheah, the Seberang Jaya assemblyman -- known among the local Chinese as "peh moh" in Hokkien which means white hair -- was "a good people's representative, close even with the Chinese." For Shafawati Ibrahim, she was sure that though the contest this time involved Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, Arif Shah could pose a challenge as he was a local who knew a lot of local problems.
"I hope he wins and make some changes to the present state of affairs," she said of the constituency held by PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail since the 1999 general election after her husband Anwar was sent to jail for power abuse and a year later for sodomy.
Before Wan Azizah, Permatang Pauh was the seat captured by Anwar in the 1982 general election on the BN ticket shortly after he joined Umno by kicking out incumbent Zabidi Ali of Pas with a 14,352-vote majority.
A voter who wanted to be called only as Rahim, said there was a 50-50 chance for Arif Shah to win "but as he mixes around with the community a lot, has helped many people, we hope BN wins.
"I feel there is a place for him," he said confidently.
In fact, the ability of the Penang-born lad who had served under Anwar when the person he is now taking on was heading the Permatang Pauh Umno division in the 1980s and 1990s, to pose a challenge to Anwar in the Aug 26 by-election was acknowledged by PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
The last time Anwar stood for the seat was in 1995, three years before he was given the sack by Umno. His majority then was 23,874 votes to beat Mazani Abdullah of PAS.
Shamsul told Bernama that Arif Shah could give Anwar a run for his money because the Umno man not only could speak Mandarin and Hokkien well but also had the necessary communication skills to get close to the local communities.
"The people here know Arif works hard.
"Arif has worked with Anwar and knows how Anwar works," he said of Arif Shah who was Permatang Pauh Umno Youth head in the 1990s.
Arif Shah is known by many as a humble person and often calls himself "coolie of the people". He also never forgets his voters who have put him where he is now.
He said he owed it to the voters who made him Seberang Jaya assemblyman since the 2004 general election but was already to face any eventualities.
In his pocket, there is always a "555" note book on which he will jot down the problems faced by the people and complaints he receives from them no matter where and when.
He also brings along his official stamp where ever he goes.
Asked on the "555" note book, Arif Shah cooly said: "This is the register of my debts to the people.
"It is very cheap and handy. Easy for me to do follow-ups on people's complaints," he told reporters at a single-storey terrace house on Persiaran Tenggiri, Seberang Jaya, near here Thursday.
Among the problems he often received besides local government issues, Arif Shah said were those related to Ah Long the loansharks who caused a lot of hardship to his constituents.
"Some have their legs broken after being forced to jump from high buildings for not be able to pay up debts. Some have to rent out their wives. Sometimes, I have to fork out my own money to help the Ah Long victims," he said.
"From about 10 complaints received, I sometimes can only solve eight and sometimes just three," said Arif Shah who is also known as OCBC -- Orang Cina Bukan Cina (Non-Chinese Chinaman).
He operates service centres in Seberang Jaya and on Jalan Baru, Perai, and a website at www.arifshah.com where his constituents could also raise their problems with him.
Since the "e-aduan" was introduced in 2004, it has received 19,000 complaints to date.
Arif Shah is fourth among 10 siblings and received early education at SRJK(C) Hun Lian, Taiping, Perak, before moving to SRJK(C) Chong Hwa Wei Sin, Kuala Terengganu and later to SMJK(C) Chong Hwa Wei Sin, Kuala Terengganu. He finished his school education at Chong Hwa High School, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur.
He furthered his study at Federal Institut of Technology in civil engineering before undergoing a course in building materials at Graber International, California, USA.
Arif Shah is also involved in the construction and property industries besides manufacturing, services and advertising.
He has four sons and a daughter aged between six and 27 years.
"I send all my children to Chinese schools because I know it brings a lot of benefits," he said and thanked his father for sending him to Chinese schools when he was young.

tunku : looks very confident this ariff shah but don't be too confident as your chances of winning is very very slim. may be if pak lah announce that he will resign earlier, say this december, ariff shah will have better chance.anyway best of luck to ariff shah.