DAY 10 SG LIMAU Quotable quotes, planned events and unplanned incidents as they take place in the run-up to the by-election on Nov 4.
11.50pm - Dulang Besar
At least 2,000 people turned up at a pasar malam area around Yan Kechil to hear a fiery speech from Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
This area is situated in Dulang Besar, which is considered a BN stronghold.
Anwar grabbed the attention of the crowd by telling them that he would fight for padi prices to be higher.
"I will chase after them and talk about the increase of padi prices," he told the crowd.
Anwar also explained a little about his trip to Rome to meet Pope Francis in an interfaith dialogue.
"The dialogue was about interfaith cooperation - that we not only fight to protect the rights of Christians in Muslim countries but also talked about protecting the rights of Muslims in Christian countries," Anwar, the PKR de facto leader said.
Anwar visited at least four places today and at every stop he was greeted by large crowds, even in Sg Limau Dalam where the MCA operation centre is located.
10.15pm - Sedaka Tengah
BN puts forward Umno permanent chairperson-cum-Johor assembly speaker Mohamad Aziz as its heavyweight speaker here.
“Barisan Nasional we support! PAS candidate we roll up!” (Barisan Nasional kita sokong! Calon PAS kita gulung!) says Aziz to a crowd of about 50 at the ceramah.
9.40pm - SJK (C) Aik Min, Sungai Limau Luar
BN candidate Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim attends a dinner with 500 people from the Chinese community and was spotted going to each table to greet the voters.
In his speech, Sohaimi urges the attendees to support him and he pledges to serve all Sungai Limau folk regardless of race.
“After five years, if I don’t perform, you can change,” he says, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
He then thanks the crowd and MCA leaders who were present with the Hokkien phrase “Kam Sia”.
MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, Labis MP Chua Tee Yong and Wanita vice-chief Heng Seai Kie are present.
6pm - Kg Selengkoh
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Kg Selengkok, a supposedly BN stronghold, to shouts of ‘reformasi’ from about 200 supporters.
Anwar is then handed 30 membership forms from the division PKR Youth leaders, saying they have managed to open a branch in the area.
Anwar is also met by PAS candidate Mohd Azam Samat, who dropped by to meet PKR supporters.
“It’s a blessing to meet Anwar and PKR supporters here,” he says.
Anwar reminds the padi farmers that the federal government had done nothing much to increase the price of padi.
“It’s been the same price since I was a minister 23 years ago,” he says.
“But the price of sugar and petrol have gone up many times since then.
“The poor people are not the benefactors, only the rich tycoons and taukehs are, whether they are Malays or Chinese,” he adds.
5pm - Kg Selengkoh, Sungai Limau
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali takes a swipe at BN candidate Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, questioning his campaign tactics, which the former considers too simplistic.
"He asks the Sg Limau voters to vote for him because his initials are S.L just like the initials for Sg Limau," he mocks, drawing laughter from the 100-odd crowd waiting at the PKR center for the arrival of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
The Gombak MP also claims that Sohaimi will never have the courage to take the BN federal government to task for any wrong-doing.
"Who would have the courage to do that? To question the federal government about things like increase in prices of essential goods?
"It is our candidate Mohd Azam Samat," Azmin, who is also Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson, says.
4.10pm - Gelang Patah
In view of Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s generosity in allocation RM1 million to SRJK (C) Aik Min in Sungai Limau, which has an enrolment of only 15 students, Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang jokes that the ministry should allocate RM480 million to the two Chinese school in the latter’s constituency in Johor.
He says this is based on a calculation of RM66,666 per student, and so, SRJK (C) Kuo Kuang 1 and 2 should thus obtain RM213million and RM216 million respectively due to the number of students each school has.
“Will Muhyiddin allocate RM480 million to the two SRJK (C) Kuo Kuang 1 and 2 in Gelang Patah based on his promise in the Sg Limau by-election to prove that BN will continue to assist Chinese and Tamil primary schools ‘for as long as there is the sun and the moon’?” Lim asks.
4pm - Sg Limau:
Gerakan national youth chief Tan Keng Liang (left) criticises the party's ally, MCA, for seeking additional state executive councillor positions in Kedah.
Tan says MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek should be campaigning in Sg Limau for something beneficial to the people, and not just for his own party.
"If Chua wants to be a hero, there are many ways to do it.
"If he is asking for even Gerakan's quota, he may as well ask for MIC’s one as well," he adds.
"But...does he have enough assemblyperson to go around!? He does not," Tan says, responding to Chua's earlier statement today on the matter.
On Monday, Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir had announced the appointment of Gurun assemblyperson Dr Leong Yong Kong as a state exco, and this was accepted openly by Gerakan leaders.
12 midnight - Permatang Buluh:
Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir announces that he would become the adopted state assemblyperson for Sungai Limau if the Barisan Nasional (BN) wins the state-by-election next Monday.
He says if the voters were to give BN the mandate, they would not only get BN’s candidate Ahmad Sohaimi as their new assemblyperson, but also a menteri besar as their adopted assemblyperson who would give special attention to them.
Mukhriz says the situation would be in line with PAS’ slogan of ‘Kekal’ (Retain), where the people of Sungai Limau had special attention from a menteri besar after former Sungai Limau assemblyperson the late Azizan Abdul Razak, was appointed as the menteri besar after the 12th general election.
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