Pakatan ceramah in Johor attracts 50,000

DAY 11 What's happening during the election campaigns around the country today? Quotable quotes, planned events and unplanned incidents as they take place.

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11.45pm - Sikamat, Seremban: "May 5 we win, May 6 new government, May 7 we lower petrol prices!" roars Anwar to the applause of the crowd ( below ).

11.23 pm - Sikamat, Seremban : Audience rush to greet and touch Anwar while he walks to the stage.

11.30pm - Gelang Patah Johor:

The crowd at Pakatan mammoth ceramah at the outdoor car park of Sutera Mall balloons to 50,000.

Besides the Chinese slogan of "May 5, change government", Lim Kit Siang has modified the slogan into "May 5, change government; May 6, new government!"

He leads the excited Chinese-majority crowd armed with mini vuvuzelas to shout the slogan before he finishes his speech.

The crowd also proves generous with Pakatan managing to raise RM195,000 tonight.

10.50pm - Kota Kinabalu:

Despite a slow start, the DAP event has managed to attract about 1,500 people.

There are still many empty seats but about 100 latecomers are standing at the entrance for the 30 minutes that former Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim has been speaking.

Teng who is the headline speaker, is not showing any signs of ending his speech, which has gotten the crowd roaring with laughter.

All the same, the four donation boxes passed around were barely half full.

Organisers say they collected RM6,085 tonight.

"The crowd is encouraging. The last time we had an event here, we only filled half the room," one party worker told Malaysiakini .

10.45pm - Sikamat, Seremban:

About 25,000 people flood Jalan Datuk Siamang Gagap to listen to a Pakatan Rakyat ceramah featuring PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

10.20pm - Gelang Patah:

More than 20,000 people throng the open-air carpark of Sutera Mall at Skudai, Johor to listen to DAP leaders speak in a mega ceramah.

The crowd, mostly Chinese, chant "Wu Yue Wu, Huan Zheng Fu" (May 5, change government) enthusiastically while waiting for the arrival of DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

Kit Siang and popular speaker Hew Kuan Yau ( right ) are scheduled to speak later.

The emcee for the event announces there are 50,000 people, while our estimation is about 20,000.

9.35pm - Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur:

Nurul Izzah campaigns at Lengkok Abdullah. She complains about the indelible ink which can disappear after washing and using hand sanitisers.

Addressing a crowd of about 100, she pleads to the crowd to give Pakatan a chance to run the federal government.

'Although Pakatan won 11 out of 12 parliamentary seats, the federal government controls and runs the Kuala Lumpur City Hall," she protests.

She also laments of having to face ministers as her opponents - first Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in 2008, and now Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

9.30pm - Johor Bahru:

Over 4,000 Chinese attend a free mega dinner organised by BN at Permas Jaya where caretaker higher education minister Khaled Nordin and other BN candidates speak.

The response to Khaled's speech is lukewarm, and the people start to leave after finishing the food. But the organiser manages to allow all candidates including Khaled to finish their speeches before that.

Even the lucky draw after Khaled's speech fails to retain the people and the emcee is forced to terminate it as nobody goes up the stage to collect the prizes when the winners are announced.

Tan Cher Puk, BN's candidate who is defending his Johor Jaya state seat, told reporters that he is worried that DAP will use dirty tactics including fabricating slanderous leaflets against itself and then blaming it on BN.

"There are both good and bad people in both BN and Pakatan, but I believe there are more good people in BN compared to Pakatan, BN is more capable of transforming the nation."

9.15pm - Sibu: Sarawak United People's Party Sibu chief Wong Soon Koh tonight alleged that a DAP member had rushed at him as though he wanted to hit him.

The Sarawak senior minister said that the incident happened earlier tonight when he spoke at a ceramah at a rural town.

"He rushed to question me, as though wanted he to strike me, but one of our members stopped him," he told the 800 strong crowd at Jalan Chew Siik Hiong which is located near the Sibu DAP branch.

Wong ( left ) added he was told that person was a DAP member.

He blamed DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang for bringing a unhealthy political culture into Sarawak.

He said the opposition is trying to incite the politics of anger and hatred, so much so that there are people who have hated BN ever since the 80s.

9pm - Skudai: About 20 alumni of Southern College gather at the sidelines of the DAP mega ceramah in Skudai.

Spokesperson for the event, Phoenix Chan, says they are here to support their juniors in Southern College.

"The news really broke our hearts," she says, adding that the college should bear the full responsibility for the alleged molest incident last night in a BN function there.

8.05pm - Segamat: BN dishes out 300 boxes of bird's nest soup in a lucky draw at a dinner in Batu Anam Chinese new village in Segamat.

The event was attended by BN's incumbent Segamat MP S Subramaniam and incumbent Jementah state assemblyperson Lee Hong Tee who are defending their seats.

Organisers say the bird's nest soup and the dinner is sponsored by businesspersons and is worth about RM30 each with a total value of around RM9,000.

They are handed out to the elderly, children and families.

7.26pm - Kota Kinabalu: Despite the free dinner, there are many empty seats spotted in a DAP event at well-known seafood restaurant Grand Port View.

Unlike in other states, the DAP - which is contesting the most seats in the Kota Kinabalu area and is defending the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seats - has not consistently organised mega rallies.

Larger events are, however, held when leaders from the peninsula - who are crowd-pullers - are in town.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng drew in a crowd of more than 2,000 - large by Kota Kinabalu standards - at a more bare bones event in a school here last week.

Tonight's guest speaker is former Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim ( left ), but the crowd has yet to reach even half of that number.

6.45pm - Kota Kinabalu:

Rumours have spread throughout Sabah that local parties Star and SAPP have been bought over by the BN.

However, The Borneo Post reports that representatives of both parties have since denied the claims.

6.00pm -

Seberang Perai: Najib Abdul Razak today became the country's first leader to use the 24km Second Penang Bridge to cross from the island to the mainland to attend a function in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai, reports Bernama .

   

"The prime minister's visit is very meaningful to us because Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) completed the connection of the north-bound span from Batu Maung on the island to Batu Kawan in Seberang Perai last week,” says JKSB managing director Dr Ismail Mohamed Taib.

   

"This means that the physical construction of the 16.9km stretch of the bridge across the sea is completed and it is passable," he adds in a media statement.

5.00pm - Repah, Tampin:

A random survey by Malaysiakini with local residents finds that the Repah incumbent, S Veerappan from DAP, is facing a tough fight from Independent candidate Fadzil A Bakar - and not from the BN candidate Yap Seong Fook.

Fadzil, a former Umno branch treasurer, is well-known to many locals because of his involvement in several NGOs such as parent-teacher associations and a special children's aid group, as well as through his car sales business.

When contacted by Malaysiakini , Fadzil is of the opinion that Repah folk needed someone who could really provide services to them.

"I only want to serve them and I feel that the two other candidates have not become close to the locals," he says.

The presence of so many of his posters shows that his machinery has been working hard for a victory although he is an Independent.

5.00pm - Sibu:

The Sibu branch of the election monitoring group Pemantau, in observing the advance voting process today, has accidentally found out that saliva and mineral water can in fact erase the indelible ink.

The group was initially doing a survey on the advance voters - which comprises of militants, the police and their spouses - but then discovered that the ink fades after a military man was spotted rubbing at his finger persistently, says Sibu Bersih Working Committee chief Dominic Hii who jointly led the Pemantau team.

According to Hii ( left ), the group transferred the ink from an army man to a Pemantau member's finger, only to shockingly discover that the colour faded in one minute by wiping the hand with just mineral water and tissue paper.

"The colour faded from purple-blackish to purple-reddish, and is now a light pink which is barely noticeable indoors," he notes.

 

"A police chief inspector even demonstrated how the ink can be erased by saliva," says Wong Meng Chuo, the coordinator of Sibu Election Watch, adding that the team was later not allowed inside the Sibu police headquarters.

Following the new development, the group will organise a three-hour Pacaba training tomorrow at Paramount Hotel, Sibu as there is a demand - especially from Kanowit where the opposition is currently short of over 30 polling agents.

Hii explained that the training is for agents in Sibu, Lanang, Julau and Kanowit.

3.50pm - Putrajaya:

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is investigating several reports relating to the spread of 'false' text-messages.

It has warned those involved, including those 'sponsoring such activities', to stop doing so or face the consequences.

The MCMC is monitoring complaints received as well as cases referred by the police in recent weeks.

"Do not believe everything that you read online. The public is urged to verify the information before forming any views or conclusions," it says in a statement.

3.10pm - Jementah: Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau says Pakatan Rakyat is confident of securing half of its targeted five parliamentary and 20 state seats in Johor.

Three of these parliamentary seats are in northern Johor, including Bakri which the coalition is defending.

"The next few days are critical. Anwar (Ibrahim) and Lim Kit Siang are going to south Johor and Lim Guan Eng is coming to north Johor to give us a boost," Boo (right) told journalists after helping DAP's Jementah candidate Tan Chee Choon to campaign in the constituency in Segamat.

Aside from riding on the momentum from these heavyweights, Boo says DAP's strategy in the run-up to the polls is also to move into the semi-urban areas such as Segamat, Labis, Bakri, Muar and Ledang in order to meet its target.

"These areas are important because their votes have stronger weightage compared to the cities where three votes is only equivalent to one vote in the semi-urban or rural areas," he says.

3.00pm - Seremban: Malay language daily Sinar Harian has reported that PAS’ candidate for the Lenggeng state seat Zulkefly Mohammad Omar ( left ) will continue to contest although he has since been warded into a hospital due to a stroke and high blood pressure.

PAS commissioner Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani says that the state PAS, along with the candidate’s representatives and the election machinery, will be taking over the campaigning activities in the area.

“On the doctor’s advice, he (Zulkefly) will have to rest in the hospital for four to five days to ensure that his health has truly improved,” Taufek is quoted as saying in the Sinar Harian report.

2.13pm - Shah Alam:

Pakatan Rakyat's act of pulling down posters of BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak in Selangor will not erase him from the hearts of voters as his presence is strong in the psyche of Malaysians.

This, argues state BN deputy election director Mohd Zin Mohamed is because his image is firmly "imprinted" in their hearts and minds, through his fulfilled promises and the many products of 1Malaysia.

"This is the action of a desperate Pakatan when they see that Najib has been successfully attracting voters to BN.

“They fear the big influence and impact that Najib enjoys in Selangor."

2.00pm - Repah, Tampin: If the number of posters put up of a candidate is any indication of his or her chances of winning, then the Independent candidate for the Repah state seat is the 'winner' in the areas near the Giant hypermarket in the Tampin town.

Posters for Fadzil Abu Bakar with a pink background and the 'car' symbol are spotted decorating a roundabout and both sides of the road.

These overshadow even those of the BN candidate Yap Seong Fook.

12.24pm - Selangor: Echoing Lee Li Yew in Rawang, MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai says in a statement that the Malays and Indians have already returned to BN.

“As such, the Chinese voters should think carefully and allow MCA to continue to be in the government. This is so that we can ensure that the government will continue to assist the Chinese community and MCA can continue to uphold the rights and interests of the Chinese.

“MCA is naturally concerned about our success or failure in this election, but we are more concerned about the Chinese community because if we lose, the Chinese will also lose their voice in government," adds Liow ( right ).

“MCA has always been entrusted with looking after and defending Chinese rights. Thus, we believe that if we are given the mandate, MCA will work harder and produce better results."

Liow is defending the Bentong parliamentary seat in Pahang.

12.10pm - Pokok Sena:

Caretaker PM Najib Abdul Razak urged the people to vote for “ galah panjangnya (his long pole)”, referring to his aide Shahlan Ismail, who is also BN’s Pokok Sena parliament seat candidate.

He said if selected, it will be easy for Shahlan, being the latter’s own political secretary, to “hack him" to obtain allocations for the constituency.

“(Shahlan) is a long pole, then he can hack me. Ask for allocation. Never mind, such pacts in order to win, Insya-Allah we will bring change to Kedah,” Najib says.

12.05pm - Shah Alam:

Caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has invited BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak to an open debate tomorrow on Pakatan Rakyat’s achievements during its five-year administration of the state.

The Selangor Pakatan chief said, in a statement, that he has accepted Najib’s challenge to publish the state’s ‘report card’ and also offered to debate the matter, but has yet to receive a reply.

The debate is to be held at 10.30am in the compound of Restoran Iskandar in Pandamaran Jaya, Port Klang.

Khalid ( left ) also urged the caretaker PM to bring with him BN’s MB candidates for the state, so that the people can get to know them and assess their ability to govern Selangor.

12.00pm - Kuching:

DAP has held a demonstration outside the Kuching South City Council yesterday to protest the removal of its billboards on Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, which were brought down by officers from the council and the Election Commission four days ago.

The protest led by Chong Chieng Jen, the incumbent Bandar Kuching parliamentarian, was joined by approximately 100 people who wore the red DAP 'Ubah' T-shirts, See Hua Daily News reported today.

The group members held up posters of holding Altantuya and and shouted, "We want justice" as they marched toward city council building from its car park.

"This is obviously double standard. Why weren’t the offensive billboards erected by Sarawak United People's Party taken down?" Chong asked.

The mayor of Kuching South, James Chan, denied the city council has ordered removal of the DAP billboards, saying the jurisdiction was with the Election Commission.

DAP has erected the Altantuya billboards in few strategic locations in Kuching to welcome BN chairman Najib Abdul Razak, who campaigned in Sarawak last Friday and Saturday.

11.53am - Rawang:

MCA Youth treasurer and the BN candidate for Rawang, Lee Li Yew, has urged Chinese Malaysians to support candidates from MCA if they want the community represented in the cabinet.

Lee says caretaker premier Najib Abdul Razak has pledged to find an alternative to the Central Reinforcement project so that the high tension cables will not pass through Rawang.

Najib has also announced the construction of a police station at Bandar Country Homes, along with SMJK Chung Ling and a Tamil school.

Lee accuses Pakatan Rakyat of spreading politics of hate and says the coalition will not be able to address the needs of a multiracial country.

It will also not be able to protect the Chinese community's welfare because the Buku Jingga does not address such needs, he adds.

11.30am - Kuala Lumpur:

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has urged BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak to take responsibility for the alleged molest of two students by BN supporters during his visit to Southern University College last night ( below ).

Even though the two alleged victims did not blame the caretaker premier, Lim, however, claimed the act was carried out by "mat rempits" who accompanied Najib.

"If he (Najib) can't control his supporters? How could he become prime minister?"

11.00am - Kuala Lumpur:

DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang announces that the party's incumbent Aulong state assemblyperson Yew Tian Hoe has withdrawn from contesting as an Independent. Yew says he is doing this voluntarily.

9.00am - Sibu:

An employer in Sibu tells his staff that if BN's Lanang parliamentary candidate Tiong Thai King wins, there will be a gift for all the employees.

"Our company promises, if Datuk Tiong becomes YB,the company will give little presents," the employer, identified only as Lau, said to applause from his staff.

The announcement was made in front of Tiong, the incumbent, during his visit to a restaurant operated by Lau, who also owns a food court and supermarket in Sibu.

Tiong later told Malaysiakini that the announcement could encourage the staff, but he was not made aware of it earlier and that he was not behind the announcement either.

Malaysiakini was politely chased out of the event by a man wearing a BN T-shirt, who said it was a closed-door event.

In fact, DAP's Lanang candidate Alice Lau Kiong Yieng ( left ) told a 1,000-strong crowd at a ceramah in Sungai Merah last night that she has received information there would be vote-buying at the restaurant.

There is no vote-buying nor corruption, Tiong said, denying any vote buying in the restaurant.