ONLY MY SABAH FRIEND HANTU LAUT SEEMS OPTIMISTIC.

Whilst both the DPM and Mustapha both admitted that UMNO is still behind PAS in Manek Urai, my friend HANTU LAUT, from across the South China Sea, harbors the possibility of UMNO upsetting PAS. The following is what he posted: (my comments follow in bold red italics)

For two decades Kelantan under PAS which should put equal amount of effort in work as in worship is still lagging behind other states. (Even with storming heaven with worship, money will not drop down from the heavens. Depriving the people of Kelantan of their oil-royalty is not right....even thiefs have displayed more honor!)

UMNO has a good chance of pulling the rug from under the feet if they can put their act together. Being the accused it should adopt defensive campaigning rather than going on the attack. (I totally am with you on UMNO putting their act together. They must come away from past acts very synonymous with the basket of Banana Republics’ devious electioneering activities. Consider these two statements of the DPM: "You (the people of Manek Urai) will not just be adopted,(if we win) because some adopted children are treated like stepchildren but you will be the golden child," he promised….and "I challenge PAS, if they can prove that they have done more(for Islam) than this, then we will surrender." What can you make out of these? Attack or Defense)

UMNO has a good chance of narrowing the majority gap or even wrestle the seat from PAS if they work hard enough.Most of their losses in past by-elections were due to loss of confidence,demoralisation, bad planning and poor strategy.

(UMNO never had to work hard. The EC, postal votes and phantom votes are always available. The EC planned and strategised all along. I agree with you why they lost in the 5 by-elections. Voters are now more aware, thru bloggers, the chicanery employed by BN.)

In term of social and economic terms Kelantan is a far cry from the rest of the nation.Should the Kelantanese continue to wallow in their parochial pride and forsake progress and development? (Sir, that bit about parochial pride and forsake progress and development, is an unkind cut to the quick. PAS quarells amongst themselves, whereas you will never get any UMNO cabinet member to disagree in public with Mr President....they CYA each other religiously. If memory does not fail me Sabah is lumped together with Kelantan and Terenganu as poor cousins, despite Sabah and Terengganu getting their oil royalties.)

With the right strategy and with Najib's popularity on the rise, Manik Urai might pull a surprise. (Hold your horses good sir. Word has it that the Tun is sharpening his cutlasses and reloading his blunderbust. Failing these, C4 and good-old-fashioned buckshots would not be bad alternatives.)