Kuala Terengganu

I have never really been to Kuala Terengganu (KT), only passing briefly through the town center a few months ago after visiting the new Crystal Mosque (photo) complex, the only place there worth seeing, I think. I was then on my way for a few days of beach bumming with some friends in Tok Bali, Kelantan. Earlier, the furthest place up north on the east coast I have been to was Kertih, where a few years ago I did a couple of consultancy and audit jobs with some associates for the Petronas port. Driving through shabby towns, kampungs and countryside, we could not then really see where the billions in oil royalty money went.

When blogger Rocky asked me yesterday at Tok Mommy's MRT why I am not in KT with our other blogger friends for the parliamentary by-election there this weekend, I had to confess that I cannot even remember the names of the three candidates. I can recall there is somewan called Wan something or other and that's about it. Unlike Permatang Pauh, for me KT is just another minor 'empire skirmish' for the ruling party and I seriously doubt that the outcome will change anything or make much of a difference to the status quo in the short term. Besides, I am also currently up to my bloody ears in work.

My blogger friend Shar101 is rightfully peeved, here, I think, about the 'dirty tricks' and 'heavy guns' from Putrajaya being brought to bear in the by-election. Nothing surprising here, old bean. But in the final analysis, it is really up to the oghang Kuala Teganung to decide and I hope they will, wisely.