Dr Mahathir Mohamad broke new ground yesterday, with his first ever foray in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's constituency Pekan since joining the opposition.

More than 600 people attended his ceramah last night in Felda Chini, a bastion of the ruling BN government.

"I think Felda settlers can no longer be strong Umno supporters. Instead, they should follow a former Umno president," Mahathir said, referring to himself.

He also urged on Felda voters to steer away from PAS - the party with the second strongest presence in such settlements.

"Don't vote for the dacing (the scale, BN's logo), nor the moon (PAS symbol). Vote for Harapan," he said.

The visit last night was Mahathir's first in four years, and the first since joining the opposition.

Prior to the visit, Pekan Umno had warned that there might be fights if the nonagenarian did not cancel his plan.

However, Mahathir's ceramah last night and his programmes earlier in the day were uninterrupted, with police present at all times.

For some Felda Chini residents attending the ceramah, the momentous visit was an opportunity for them evaluate which side to vote for in the forthcoming 14th general election.

"We can compare the leaders and see who is better in terms of governance and how they will improve things," Hafizudin Hassan, 25, told Malaysiakini.

The youth, who would be voting for the first time in GE14, indicated that things are about to shake up in Najib's stronghold, with Umno's grip on the constituency in doubt.

Settler Majid Fazil, 63, summed it up by saying that Umno's chances in Pekan were "50-50".

Another young settler, however, gave a more cautious outlook.

"Umno can win, but their (level of support) will be affected," said 30-year-old Saiful Aiman.

However, weighing on the minds of these three and other Felda Chini settlers Malaysiakini met with last night is the burden of rising cost of living.

"Things are harder now. Before Najib was prime minister, things were better, but we are feeling the pinch now," said Razali, 60, adding that inconsistent oil palm prices were among his concerns.

Pekan is set to be contested by a candidate from Mahathir's Bersatu in GE14.

Nevertheless, a Pekan Umno leader is confident that the fledgling Bersatu would not even get its election deposit back.

"In Pekan, Bersatu has no life. It will go the way of Semangat 46, it will lose its deposit," Pekan Umno Orang Asli bureau chief Shaharuddin Ahmad told Malaysiakini when met earlier in the day.