War veteran vs political veteran

The two men competing for the hearts and minds of the 96,515 voters of Johor Baru in this general election could not be more different.

Where Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) Tan Sri General (retired) Hashim Hussein is loud and hearty, Umno's Tan Sri Shahrir Samad is soft-spoken and genteel.

Where Hashim is dark-haired, Shahrir sports a head full of white.

Where Hashim is new, Shahrir is familiar – and perhaps this is the most crucial difference between them.

At a morning walkabout at a pasar tani in Bandar Baru Uda here on Sunday, Shahrir was warmly greeted by some 60 stall owners and countless more doing their shopping.

Many who recognised him called out to him and spoke to him like old friends. Quiet and affable, he needed no introduction to most of them – having been the incumbent here for almost three decades.

Accompanied by his wife, Shahrizan (who is Chinese), Shahrir spoke fondly of Johor Baru.

"It is very kampong-like, still, and very united… whether Malay, Chinese or Indian.

"People say Johoreans are different… yes, we are different. We were 1Malaysia here even before the concept was thought of," he told theSun over coffee just before the walkabout.

In contrast, Hashim, who went on a walkabout at Century Park yesterday morning, was jovial and enthusiastic but relatively unknown to the people there.

Accompanied by PKR Tanjung Piai chief, Dr Lee Boon Peng and several other PKR members, Hashim greeted shop owners and introduced himself to them, helped by Lee, who was his Mandarin translator.

Faced with the mostly-Chinese speaking crowd, Hashim however had a clear message that needed no translation – "Ubah!", which has been the rallying cry of the opposition in Johor.

Later, when approached by the press, Hashim was clear about his plan to wrest Johor from the grasp of Barisan National – by using his war experience.

"I have devised a tactical and operational plan, which all I can say is the same time-tested plan we applied in war – in a foreign land, faced with three warring factions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I also have a Masters in War Studies, and as a soldier I will apply these tactics on the ground. All this I will use to win Johor Baru," he said.

The JB-born Hashim, who was the 18th army chief of Malaysia, is well-aware of the challenge he faces against Shahrir.

"Sun Tzu said, know your enemy and know yourself and you will not fear a thousand battles. I do not underrate my enemy," he said.

When asked about the protest organised on Sunday by some 200 former army personnel who claimed Hashim was 'ungrateful' and a 'traitor to race, religion, and country', Hashim said in a democratic country they are free to do what they want, and so is he.

"Of course, we know who is instigating them, but truth be told if I had joined Umno they would have hailed me as a hero. I know my choice is right. I believe our children and grandchildren deserve a better life – I myself have 16 grandchildren.

"We have to be mature, because we want to be a developed country in seven years time. In developed countries, like United States, democrats do not label republicans as 'traitors' when democrats take over the government," he said, dismissing the complaints as 'cheap publicity'.

The two opponents may be different in most ways, but one major factor unites them both – the battle to get the most votes in the May 5 ballots.

-thesundaily.my