State polls: Heli, 737 replicas draw the crowds as flag war intensifies up north

ALOR SETAR: With the state election just around the corner, party flag and banner wars have gained intensity.

Beside flags and banners, giant replicas of various items can be seen, especially in the rural areas where PAS has a strong presence.

In Kampung Charok Salang of Baling, a replica of a Nuri helicopter complete with Perikatan Nasional logo and PAS flags has drawn the attention of the public from as far as Pahang and Terengganu.

The builder of the replica, Muhammad Baihaki Ishak, 30, said the idea to build the helicopter replica came from his brother, who is a contractor.

"My brother said we should do something for the upcoming state polls, so we started to think of how to build it," he said.

The helicopter, which is 10m tall and 2m wide, cost about RM18,000 and was constructed over some seven months before being completely ready weeks before the campaign period.

Muhammad Baihaki said the helicopter replica has created a huge interest from the public and has been visited by people from as far as Terengganu and Pahang.

Kuala Ketil Perikatan Nasional candidate Mansor Zakaria said the creative invention has generated an economic boon for the people in the village when outsiders visited to see the replica.

"Many villagers took this opportunity to set up small businesses and sell food and drinks for the visitors," he added.

Mansor said the helicopter replica indirectly promoted Perikatan during the state election and the public were very receptive to it.

Meanwhile, a Boeing 737 plane at Kampung Batu Besar, Sik has also created a huge buzz among the public.

Decorated with blue Perikatan banners and PAS logos, the aircraft replica has opened up an opportunity to the villagers to earn side-income too.

The flag wars at other places in Kedah have also intensified with every contesting party from Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan having their election workers put up the flags at strategic locations in their respective constituencies.

In Penang, the flag war has also intensified with all contesting parties having put up their flags in all 40 constituencies.

At the Kampung Melayu flats, for example, all floors were decked up in Pakatan flags.

The Perikatan flags also dominated the scene especially in the Malay majority areas in mainland.