Smaller PKR crowd louder than BN supporters in Bangsar (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: With just about 150 supporters, compared with the 500 turnout at the Barisan Nasional (BN) camp, PKR supporters made sure their voice is heard from a distance with the chant of "reformasi' as early as 8am at Pusat Komunity Bukit Bandaraya in Bangsar today.
Considered one of the hot seats in Klang Valley, the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat will see a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional's Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, PKR's Fahmi Fadzil and PAS' Fauzi Abu Bakar.
Despite the difference in social status, the different communities live in the hundreds of mixed large and small residential areas.
The most popular area Bangsar, is a vibrant neighbourhood famous for its swanky restaurants and bars.
Hence, while majority of the electorate are predominantly middle-income earners, they live amid some wealthy Malaysians.
In 2008, Nurul Izzah Anwar won the seat, which she defended again in 2013 despite a stiff challenge from Lembah Pantai Umno division chief Raja Nong Chik.
However, this year Nurul Izzah Anwar is contesting in Permatang Pauh. Raja Nong Chik expressed his confidence in winning his seat on April 9.
“I believe in this General Election, Barisan Nasional has a better chance to win the Pantai Dalam seat,” said Raja Nong Chik.
“We began planning on reclaiming this constituency back five years back. Although I lost in the 13th General Election, I never gave up and I continued serving the people of Lembah Pantai within my capability,” he added.
Before Raja Nong Chik headed to join his group of supporters, he requested his opponents not to spread rumours about him during this election.
“I was falsely accused one day before the last election (which I lost),” said Raja Nong Chik, alleging that Nurul Izzah defamined him over the sale of a prime land in Bukit Kiara.
“I just hope no one brings up any false accusations against me, my private life or anything irrelevant in this election. Let’s just focus on the people of Lembah Pantai and how we could help them,” he concluded.
As a safety measure, police barricaded three roads leading into the nomination centre, leaving supporters of BN, PAS, and PRK outside the area.
The Nomination of P.121 Lembah Pantai Parliament sear was witnessed by election commissioner Abdul Salim Mansor as the three hopeful candidates took their seat to register as contestants.
The majority voters in Lembah Pantai are Malays, who form over half of the seat’s 72,386 registered voters, followed by Chinese and Indians, each making up around a fifth of the electorate.