GE14 | Soon after the Election Commission announced that voting for the 14th general election will take place on Wednesday, May 9, new catchphrases are going viral on social media.

The Malay word for Wednesday, “Rabu”, has been converted into an acronym by both BN and Pakatan Harapan supporters.

In the opposition camp, it stands for 'Rakyat akan buang Umno' (the people will discard Umno).

Among those who shared the catchphrase was DAP's incumbent Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, who tweeted: “Pahlawan sangat la tu, set hari undi hari kerja. Apa-apapun: Rakyat akan buang Umno (Rabu)” (What a warrior, fixing the polling date on a workday. Regardless, the people will discard Umno).

The warrior remark was aimed at caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who had described himself as a “Bugis warrior.”

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On the BN front, however, “Rabu” stands for “Rakyat akan bersama Umno" (The people will be with Umno)” and “Rakyat akui Barisan unggul" (The people acknowledge BN is great).

The EC's decision to hold the election on a working day has drawn flak from the opposition and other quarters.

The commission has been accused of making it difficult for voters, especially those who are outstation, to return to their respective constituencies to vote.

The date had also ignited speculation that BN and Umno have grounds to be concerned about the voting pattern.

The coming election has been described as the 'mother of all polls', with both Najib and his former mentor-turned-nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad banking on Malay votes.

Mahathir, who is leading the opposition pact Pakatan Harapan, is confident that a Malay tsunami would tilt the balance of power.

However, Umno leaders have dismissed this view.

The EC, in a press conference this afternoon, also announced that the filing of nomination papers by candidates for the 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats would be held on April 28.