IN BUKIT SELAMBAU, MALAYSIA

COCONUT tree, keys, chair. Tiger, clock, bicycle, umbrella. You name it, they've got it!

These are just some of the various symbols used by the 13 independent candidates in the Bukit Selambau by-election in Kedah state of Malaysia. Other symbols include a  book, a rooster, a school bus, a fish, a telephone and an aeroplane.

There are 15 candidates vying for votes of the nearly 35,000 voters for this state constituency seat. Two other candidates are  from ruling coalition Barisan Nasional and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

The sheer number of candidates made history here, as never before had so many candidates contested for a single seat in an election in Malaysia. The colourful election campaign posters, buntings, streamers and banners have made this sleepy town come alive.

Most of the posters and buntings have been put up at prominent places especially at traffic lights, road junctions, cross junctions and outside the candidates' operation centres.

Voters do not seem to mind that they have so many candidates to choose from. In fact, they find it amusing.

"Look at that aeroplane symbol. Don't think it will fly very far. It is only a Fokker, it is not like big Malaysia Airlines planes," my taxi driver said with a laugh.

But the candidates and parties involved are worried that voters may be confused with so many symbols.

"There are so many symbols. The voters may just be confused and put a cross in the wrong column. We're also worried that the officers separating the ballot papers may have a headache.

"Just imagine, they will have 13 boxes in front of them to separate the ballot papers," PKR Kapar lawmaker S Manikavasagam, who had been campaigning for the PKR candidate, told The Straits Times.

Contrary to my taxi driver's remark, Mr T Chandrarajan - the candidate with the aeroplane symbol - is in fact the most popular independent. Posters depicting him are the biggest and most conspicuous here. Rumours are that he will be able to at least garner some votes although he may not have a chance to win.

Another “most-talked-about” independent candidate is L Sarala - the only woman candidate among the lot. To live up to her bicycle symbol, she cycles around residential areas to distribute leaflets and talk to the residents.

Despite the sheer number of candidates, everyone knows the actual race is between PKR and BN. The independent candidates are unlikely to make any significant dent.

And whether by coincidence or by choice, the PKR and BN candidates have got interesting ranks in the ballot list. Mr S Manikumar - the PKR candidate - is ranked candidate number four, the number which stands for death in Chinese. Mr S Ganesan from BN is number eight, which means prosperity in Chinese.

"It's just something we noticed. The numbers will definitely not be a factor in swinging votes but it's funny though that PKR gets number 4, the unlucky number for Chinese," a voter said.

However, when the Elecetion Commission released the ballot papers on Monday, the numbers were conspicuous by their absence. Now the ballot papers hold only the symbols of the candidates.

The Bukit Selambau state seat fell vacant following the resignation of PKR's V Arumugam on allegations of bigamy and morality issues.

Tueday's votes will determine which candidate finally takes off, and which is grounded.