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Day 6: Amanah hopeful holds ceramah in front of ancestral home

GE14 LIVE DAY 6 | It's day six of the 14th general election campaign period, and there are just six days to go before polling day.

Follow our live blog as the Malaysiakini team brings you the news as it takes place.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Torchlights brighten Lembah Pantai after ‘blackout’
  • DAP ceramah interrupted by Umno hecklers and sudden rain
  • DAP collects almost RM40k at Kota Melaka ceramah
  • Dr M, Hannah, and Nik Omar take the stage at Putrajaya rally
  • Civil servants show up at Harapan rally in Putrajaya
  • ‘I might be arrested soon’ - Mahathir forewarns Lembah Pantai
  • More than 4,000 people attend Harapan's Kluang ceramah
  • Dr M's son Mokhzani appears at Bersatu ceramah in Kedah
  • Huge crowd at Putrajaya for Dr M, Nik Omar double-whammy
  • MCA: Dr M inciting anti-Chinese rhetoric with pledge to review China projects
  • Teng to Guan Eng: No botak hills in Penang?
  • Offence to post or publish photos of GE14 documents
  • I regret voting for Nik Abduh, voter tells the latter's brother
  • Ensure people aren’t ‘confused’, Kedah caretaker MB tells village chiefs

11.59pm: We've ceased live updates for Day 6 of the campaigning period in the lead up to the May 9 polls. Follow us tomorrow for our live blog on Day 7.

Amanah hopeful holds ceramah in front of ancestral home

11.59pm: Kampung Pasir Panjang Laut, Lumut - Amanah Lumut candidate Hatta Ramli held a ceramah kelompok (group ceramah) tonight in front of his ancestral home here.

Around 100 villagers attended, with half of them sitting in the chairs in the front yard and half of them watching from their motorcycles outside the house.

The two-storey-high wooden house which contains 80 years of history is the place where Hatta was born and raised.

"This is my village, I left the village at 1972 to study in Kuala Kangsar and then enter university and work in KL, therefore I think it is needed to hold a talk in my house so that youngsters of this village can recognise me.

"Most parts of the house are still part of the original wooden house but the ground portion is new, which (was built) about 20 years ago; although the upper part of the house has 80 years of history.

"The message that I wanted to express is, 'I belong here'," he told Malaysiakini.

Hatta is the incumbent Kuala Krai MP with two terms under his belt.

However, in this general election he will be following party arrangements to contest in Lumut instead. He will be up against Umno's Zambry Abdul Kadir and PAS' Mohammed Zamri Ibrahim.

Zambry is also caretaker Perak menteri besar.

Hatta also held another ceramah kelompok tonight at Felcra Lekir, which is the Malay heartland in Lumut. It attracted 25 attendees. The ceramah was held in front of the house of a Bersatu member. 

Lumut has a Malay-majority voter demographic, with Malays making up 72 percent of voters. Besides that, Chinese comprise 15 percent of voters and Indians comprise 11 percent.

Torchlights brighten Lembah Pantai after ‘blackout’

11.15pm: Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur - After Dr Mahathir Mohamad leaves the ceramah at PPR Kerinchi to attend the Harapan rally in Putrajaya, the night continues with speeches from politicians as well as from activist Hishamuddin Rais, cartoonist Zunar and actor-comedian Usop Wilcha. 

Halfway through Usop’s speech, the lights in the main tent go off and the crowd responds by using their mobile phones as torchlights. Shouts of “sabotage” are heard. Usop carries on. 

The thespian, whose real name is Syed Mohamad Asri, has the crowd in stitches as he pokes fun of the BN dacing (scales) logo as being lopsided and the PAS “moon” for being fickle.

“But with Harapan, the eye (PKR) is getting onto the rocket (DAP). They have people who are amanah ('trustworthy', referring to Amanah), and now they even have a flower (Bersatu) as well!” he says, describing the four component parties working together.

Usop, like all the speakers tonight, endorse Harapan-PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil’s candidacy for Lembah Pantai. 

Fahmi addresses the crowd last, saying, “In Lembah Pantai, don’t just choose biru muda (light blue), but choose the candidate who is lebih muda (younger),” he says as the crowd of around 900 people cheers him on. 

This refers to both the PKR flag’s lighter shade of blue compared to BN’s, and also his younger age compared to BN-Umno’s Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin. 

Dr M, Hannah, and Nik Omar take the stage at Putrajaya rally

11pm: Putrajaya - Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad (photo) arrives at 10.15pm with his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali to shouts of "Hidup Tun".

He is greeted by Amanah's Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz as they shook hands on the stage.

People rush to take photographs of the two as they stand together side by side.

Harapan's Segambut parliamentary seat candidate Hannah Yeoh (photo) takes the stage fifteen minutes later, asking civil servants to leave their comfort zone and vote for Pakatan Harapan.

She said that if elected, Harapan will be fair to civil servants.

"Some of our leaders have left their comfort zone to contest elsewhere.

"I left Subang Jaya and my post as speaker to contest in Segambut. Selangor exco Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad left his post to contest in Setiawangsa. Similarly with others like Liew Chin Tong who is facing MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong," she said.

Nik Omar then gives a speech, describing his late father Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's moderateness.

Nik Omar (photo) said one morning when his father was ill and suffering a fever, he remembered it was the late DAP veteran Karpal Singh's birthday that day.

"Despite not feeling well I saw him leaving for Penang to meet with Karpal, " he said.

Nik Omar said Malaysia is blessed with a country in which people of different races live together peacefully.

That, he said, is what it should be and his late father had led by example by respecting others of different faiths.

DAP ceramah interrupted by Umno hecklers and sudden rain

11pm: Taman Tun Sardon, Penang - DAP’s Seri Delima state seat candidate Syerleena Abdul Rashid's ceramah here tonight (photo) was interrupted by two incidents - a sudden downpour and a slight commotion by Umno supporters.

Taman Sardon is a hardcore Umno area in a predominantly Chinese-majority constituency. DAP leaders are often snubbed or receive a lukewarm response from people in this area.

The situation had improved with the emergence of Umno splinter party Bersatu, a party led by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

A commotion broke out when Jelutong candidate RSN Rayer was speaking at the event about 9pm. "Let's end Umno in this elections," he said, while touching on other national issues affecting the people like the goods and services tax.

Several people at the coffee shop near the ceramah area shouted at him. They went on for several minutes but were appeased by others who turned up for Syerleena's talk.

Rayer had previously landed in hot water when he uttered the word "celaka" (be damned) in the Penang Legislative Assembly in 2015. He was detained under the Sedition Act, but the case was dropped last year.

Later, while Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat candidate Ramkarpal Singh was speaking, her supporters took shelter due to a sudden heavy downpour. The crowd remained despite the rain.

"Do not compare Syerleena with Rayer," Ramkarpal told the loyal crowd. "Give Syerleena a chance to serve you as Rayer has," he added.

As the tension between Umno and DAP continues to brew in areas like this, especially during the election season, local Pakatan Harapan speakers are emphasising the importance of being multiracial and multireligious, saying voting Harapan would help them achieve this aim.

The speakers tonight are Chow Kon Yeow (DAP candidate for Tanjung), Aida Yusof Rawa and Zarina Zakaria, women’s wing chiefs for Amanah and PKR respectively, and Zairil Khir Johari (DAP candidate for Tanjung Bungah).

DAP collects almost RM40k at Kota Melaka ceramah

10.50pm: Kota Melaka, Malacca - The emcee of tonight's DAP ceramah announces that they have managed to collect RM39,985.25 and one renminbi in donations so far. 

The ceramah is held in a rented hall at Pay Fong secondary school, where there are about 1,200 people in attendance, almost all of whom are Chinese. 

The crowd has been listening to the Malacca DAP candidates speak one by one. The Bemban state seat candidate Dr Wong Fort Pin speaks on stage, followed by Kota Melaka parliamentary candidate Khoo Poay Tiong. 

Though most of the crowd appears to be listening intently and reacting enthusiastically to the speeches, a number are seen on their phones.

More people are still milling around outside the hall.

Civil servants show up at Harapan rally in Putrajaya

10.45pm: Putrajaya - A mixed crowd with roughly 80 percent Malay attendees were present at a Harapan ceramah tonight, which was held at a car park beside Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque.

The key speakers tonight are Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Amanah’s Chempaka state seat candidate Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz.

While some of the people are provided with chairs, most people have to stand.

The majority of the audience seem to be from the Klang Valley and Negeri Sembilan, with one family coming all the way from Perak for the ceramah here tonight.

"My eldest son works at Putrajaya Corporation, so we arrived here to stay at his house in Putrajaya," says a middle-aged woman.

Together with her is her second son, who works as a police officer.

Yusof, 59, an immigration officer based in Putrajaya, says public officers will be in trouble if they are caught appearing at opposition events.

"But I just don't care anymore, I am going to retire next year," he says.

Comparing Mahathir’s premiership with that of caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, he says the civil servants back in the 1980s and 1990s were not burdened by cost of living and goods and services tax (GST).

"Also, the petrol price was not expensive (then), Mahathir had it under control," he adds.

"During Mahathir's era, salaries were low, but then everything was cheap. Now, the price are tenfold higher," he says.

Thus, he says he will go back to Malacca to vote and support the opposition in Tangga Batu, just like in the past polls.

Meanwhile, Amir, an employee of Putrajaya Corporation and a PKR member, says he will continue to support the opposition.

Mohd, 39, an Education Ministry officer, says he used to vote for PAS, but decided to swing to Harapan this time.

"I come for both Mahathir and Nik Omar. I have only seen video of Nik Omar in social media, but I want to listen to him myself," says Mohd.

"I voted twice for PAS, but PAS has become a party that is unable to integrate the different views of other groups in society, and is unable to agree or disagree," says the Seri Serdang voter.

The government is unable to control inflation, and he has to work part-time as a Grab driver to earn a total salary of RM4,000.

Another voter in Putrajaya, Mohd Zainun, a 28-year-old teacher in religious school, has decided to vote for Harapan.

"I am a first-time voter and I will vote for Harapan in Putrajaya," he says.

"The government now only take care of cronies. Besides that, there is still GST and floating petrol prices," he says.

Meanwhile, Khoo, a 50-year-old businessperson, says he wants to hear what Nik Omar has to say.

"I live in Klang Valley and I never missed the opportunity to vote in the past," he says.

‘I might be arrested soon’ - Mahathir forewarns Lembah Pantai

10.30pm: PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur-Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad takes the stage almost immediately after arriving on the scene, around 9.15pm. 

He thanks the 1,500 before him for coming on their own accord tonight, unlike “their events” where people are bused in and given free food to attend. 

“I might be arrested soon,” he says, referring to how he is being probed under the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 for previously claiming his private plane could have been sabotaged. 

“But it is (Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi, caretaker deputy prime minister) who is spreading fake news, he says I will be hospitalised right before the election to get more votes. 

“But I don’t think I need to go into hospital to get votes,” he says, to loud cheers from a captive audience. 

As always, Mahathir fires salvos at caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, and urges the audience to reject “parti bulan” (the moon party, referring to PAS). 

He cracks up the crowd when he mistakenly calls on the crowd to vote for candidates from “Barisan” before realising his slip of the tongue and laughing about it. 

“Sometimes I fall back to my old habits. 

“You know I used to be the Umno president? Now I am trying to bring down Umno. 

“This is because Umno is not Umno anymore, it is Najib’s party,” he says. 

The night’s event is held at a futsal court surrounded by low-cost flats, and many families have come down from their units to listen to what the former premier has to say. 

More than 4,000 people attend Harapan's Kluang ceramah

10.10pm: Kluang, Johor - More than 4,000 people have turned up at Harapan's ceramah in Kluang.

Bersatu's Shukur Mohamad, who is the son of former Johor speaker Mohamad Aziz, is campaigning for Harapan despite not being chosen to contest in the 14th general election.

He urged voters to vote for change and elect Harapan's candidates for the parliamentary seat of Kluang and the state seats of Mengkibol and Mahkota.

Nik Omar arrives at Harapan's Putrajaya rally

10pm: Putrajaya - Amanah's Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz arrives at the Harapan rally here, amid shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (God is the greatest).

Nik Omar is the son of late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who joined Amanah and will be contesting in his late father's state seat Chempaka in Kelantan. 

Also present is Selangor speaker Hannah Yeoh who is contesting in Segambut.  

Dr M's son Mokhzani appears at Harapan ceramah in Kedah

9.50pm: Felda Sg Tiang, Pendang - Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son and prominent businessperson Mokhzani Mahathir is sighted on the campaign trail together with Bersatu's Pendang candidate Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Sungai Tiang candidate Abdul Razak Khamis. 

He is seen having dinner with the candidates at a Bersatu election operations centre here, and then joins them on a panel for a ceramah (extreme left in photo) shortly after.

Also on the panel is the prominent Felda issues activist Mazlan Aliman. 

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Wan Saiful says he too was shocked by Mokhzani's appearance. 

"I actually asked him his name, because I thought it couldn't be him," he says.

Warm reception for 'Superman' Hew at DAP ceramah

9.48pm: Kota Melaka, Malacca - Former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau (photo), fondly known as Superman, arrives at the DAP ceramah here to loud applause and whistling from the 1000-strong crowd. 

He is accompanied by a man waving a PKR flag behind him as he strides into the hall. 

The crowd cheers Hew on continuously until he makes his way to the front row of seats. 

As he takes his seat, the emcee welcomes Harapan candidate for Kota Laksamana Low Chee Leong onto the stage. 

Huge crowd at Putrajaya for Dr M, Nik Omar double-whammy

9.20pm: Putrajaya - Following a downpour earlier today, the field is soggy and muddy at a Pakatan Harapan rally besides the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque car-park.

This, however, does not deter a huge crowd of about 3,500 comprising the various races to gather here.

Anticipation is running high as tonight's ceramah will feature Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and 'rebel' Nik Omar Nik Aziz who has defected from PAS.

Ceramah attendee Tay, 63, took a drive all the way from his home in Puchong to attend his first rally in this election.

A former government servant himself, he is looking forward to seeing the Pakatan Harapan chairperson on stage tonight.

“I’ve been voting since my twenties. I’m here to see Dr Mahathir,” he said.

“Times are really bad now compared to the times when I was still in the (civil) service.”

When asked about what he is expecting to see in this election, he said simply, “Hope.”

DAP ceramah in Kota Melaka gains momentum

9.10pm: Kota Melaka, Malacca - The DAP ceramah here gains momentum even though DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke leaves.

The crowd, which was earlier about 600 people, swells to about 900 with more standing outside the hall. The organisers had to put out more chairs along the sides of the hall as more people make their way inside.

Several Malacca DAP candidates are taking turns to speak onstage. Incumbent Bandar Hilir assemblyperson Tey Kok Kiew is speaking now.

Former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, fondly known as "Superman", is expected to take the stage later tonight. Hew is known for his controversial speeches.

Lembah Pantai folks mob Mahathir as he arrives

9:00pm - PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, KL - The crowd swarms around Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he arrives for his first ceramah in Lembah Pantai since the GE14 campaign began.

The emcee struggles to control the crowd as people young and old rush towards Mahathir, delaying his approach to the stage.

He is accompanied by his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and Harapan-PKR’s Lembah Pantai candidate Fahmi Fadzil. Shouts of “Hidup Tun” ring out.

The crowd at this point has swelled to at least 1,000, and everyone is craning their necks and raising their mobile phones to get a glimpse and a picture of Harapan’s PM designate.

'Get rid of the bloody GST!'

8:30pm - PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, KL - More than 500 people have gathered at a futsal court here awaiting Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s arrival.

He, along with Harapan-PKR’s Lembah Pantai candidiate Fahmi Fadzil, are slated to address the crowd tonight.

Scientist and university lecturer Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz arrives in a wheelchair and says she hopes Harapan wins this the 14th general election.

“He (Mahathir) bloody well better win this election, that’s all I’m saying. We’ve had enough of this nonsense. I am a disabled person and things like this (pointing to her wheelchair) should not have GST. They claim items like this are GST-free but they are not!

“And I work so I can pay for this but what about other people? I hope they get rid of the bloody GST,” she tells Malaysiakini.

MCA using China president posters because desperate: DAP

8.15pm - Kota Melaka, Malacca - DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke says MCA resorted to using the image of China President Xi Jinping on their election posters because they are desperate.

“MCA knows they don’t hold any sway over the rakyat so that’s why they have to use the picture of Liow Tiong Lai and Xi Jinping shaking hands (on their posters).

“Because they know Xi Jinping has a lot of influence. But it’s not going to work,” Loke said, to a crowd of about 600 people, all Chinese, at the Pay Fong secondary school hall in the heart of Malacca city.

He also cracked jokes about viral messages going around about a so-called dress code on polling day and this tickled the crowd.

“They say you cannot wear short pants. You can wear any pants you want, as long as you wear pants, and a shirt,” he quipped in Chinese, drawing laughter from the audience.

Kota Melaka is an urban seat and an opposition stronghold, having fallen only once to BN in 2004.

Police probing death threat against EC employee, says Zahid

6.15pm: Bagan Datuk, Perak - Caretaker deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reportedly announced that the police have been instructed to investigate an alleged death threat made against a Negeri Sembilan Election Commission assistant on nomination day.

Zahid is quoted by Bernama as saying that the matter could not be taken lightly, and there would be no compromise as the individual involved was an EC employee who was discharging a duty in upholding a democratic system.

“They (EC employees) must be given the full trust to implement their duties in accordance with the Election Commission Act and the Federal Constitution,” he reportedly says to reporters after an Armed Forces social programme in Kampung Sungai Sumun near Hutan Melintang here today.

Zahid is commenting on a newspaper report yesterday that a 36-year-old EC employee had been issued a death threat and that a report was made at the Rembau District Police headquarters last Tuesday.

Berita Harian had yesterday reported Negeri Sembilan police GE14 media relations officer Mazrin Mahmud as saying the official had been informed of the threat after his friend sent him a screenshot on WhatsApp.

Zahid urges all party leaders at all levels to inform their party machinery, members and campaign assistants to abide by the rules of the Election Commission Act.

MCA: Dr M inciting anti-Chinese rhetoric with pledge to review China projects

6pm: Petaling Jaya - MCA publicity bureau chairperson Chai Kim Sen has accused Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad of attempting to stir up anti-Chinese sentiments by allegedly pledging to review government deals with China and Singapore. 

In an interview with the Associated Press on 18 April, Mahathir had said that Harapan would review Chinese loans and investments, given that Malaysia may not currently be able to repay its current debts.

Chai accuses Mahathir and Harapan of “deliberately” inciting anti-Chinese rhetoric, and of practising “selective racism”.

He also claims that if Mahathir’s statement represented the coalition’s stance, Mahathir and Harapan would be “creating unnecessary problems for Malaysia’s foreign relations, especially our friendly relations with Singapore and China.”

He adds that the coalition’s stance on such projects was hypocritical, given that opposition-led state Penang and its caretaker chief minister Lim Guan Eng openly welcomed Chinese investment.

“If we go by Mahathir's objection to Chinese investments, does this mean that Lim Guan Eng should reject Chinese investments?” Chai asks.

Teng to Guan Eng: No 'botak' hills in Penang?

5.55pm: George Town, Penang - Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow expresses surprise and shock to learn that caretaker chief minister Lim Guan Eng had said there are no "botak" hills in Penang.

Teng cites a report in China Press today, quoting Lim as saying in a ceramah last night that there are no such hills in Penang.

He is quoted as saying: “Show proof, don’t simply talk, where?”

Teng, the Tanjong Bunga candidate, says "something must be wrong with Lim’s eyes".

“Do you need a good pair of reading glasses? Don’t tell us that you also haven’t heard Penang people talking about the 'botak' hills?" Teng asks.

Teng (photo) tells Lim to go online and search for “botak hills in Penang” to see photographs and news reports on the subject.

He reminds Lim that former Tanjong Bunga assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu had voiced many times about the matter.

He slams Lim for disregarding public opinion and ignoring Penangites and NGOs who raised their concerns of excessive development in the state in recent years.

"Penang people do not want to see the green lungs in the state being repeatedly damaged," he adds.

Accompanying Teng at the press conference are Gerakan candidates Baljit Singh (Jelutong), Peggie Koo Pei Chee (Batu Lancang), Lee Boon Ten (Datuk Keramat) and Ng Fook On (Sungai Pinang).

Offence to post or publish photos of GE14 documents

5.00pm: Putrajaya - The Election Commission has advised all voters, especially for those who are eligible to vote, either domestically or overseas not to photograph any document such as ballot papers, forms or sampling related to GE14 and post it through social media or any communication media, reports Bernama.

EC chief Mohd Hashim Abdullah (photo) says the prohibition aims to ensure the transparency of the "Vote Is Secret" be preserved in GE14.

"The prohibition covers all types of voting, including postal vote which receives the election’s documents before early and regular voting. It also aims to preserve the security and public concerns throughout the election process."

Any individual or parties found guilty of this offence may be liable to action under Section 3 of the Election Offenses Act 1954 (Act 5), on conviction, to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years or to be fined not exceeding RM5,000 or be imprisoned and fined.

The individual also may not be registered or listed as a voter or vote in any election until five years from the conviction, and if the individual has been elected in any election, the seat shall be vacated from the date of the conviction.

"In this regard, all voters are reminded to ensure the confidentiality of their votes," says Hashim.

I regret voting for Nik Abduh, voter tells the latter's brother

4.05pm: Shah Alam, Selangor - At a Harapan function for Kelantanese diaspora here, a Pasir Mas voter, Kamarulzaman Shaari, says he regrets voting for the parliament seat's incumbent Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.

"I still regret my decision (to vote for Nik Abduh)," Kamarulzaman tells Nik Abduh's older brother Nik Omar, as a special guest at the function attended by about 60 people at Seksyen 17 here.

Nik Omar, in response, tells Kamarulzaman (photo) to cease regretting his decision and urges all those present to go back and vote for Harapan candidates on May 9.

When met later, Kamarulzaman tells reporters that he regrets his vote for Nik Abduh as he believes PAS is now working together with Umno.

"I did not vote for PAS to work with Umno," he says, adding that all of his family members will cast their votes for Harapan candidates on May 9.

Nik Omar is the second son of the late PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, while Nik Abduh is his younger brother.

The two siblings made headlines after Nik Omar's surprise decision to contest against PAS in the Chempaka state seat.

Also present were Harapan's Batu Tiga state seat candidate Rodziah Ismail and Shah Alam parliament candidate Khalid Samad.

Ensure people aren’t ‘confused’, Kedah caretaker MB tells village chiefs

4:00pm: Sri Mentaloon, Alor Setar - Kedah caretaker menteri besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (photo) hosts a closed-door briefing with about 100 village chiefs from throughout the state at his official residence.

Speaking to reporters later, Bashah says the village chiefs were asked to play their roles in ensuring that the people are not "confused" and make the best choice for their future.

"The role of the village chiefs is very important in showing what is really happening so that the people are not confused. So, the role of the village chiefs is to advise the people so that they are not confused - not to influence them - but just not confused. Advise the people, because they (the village chiefs) are with the people all the time," he says.

Asked about Universiti Utara Malaysia researcher Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani’s prediction that Kedah may face a hung assembly, Bashah says that is merely the academic's opinion and expressed confidence that BN will win enough seats to form the state government after the election.

Arul Kanda undoes 1MDB 'knots' in Penang

4.00pm: Balik Pulau, Penang - 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy is in Balik Pulau to dispel the many 'spins" by Pakatan Harapan to denigrate the sovereign fund set up by caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"They spin the issue to topple the government," Arul tells a crowd of more than 400 people. Accompanying him at the event is Umno leader and former PKR leader Lokman Adam.

Arul (photo) tells the audience he came to the firm after problems befell 1MDB.

He also says that Penang born businessperson Low Taek Jho, who is better known as Jho Low, left the Terengganu Investment Board before 1MDB was formed.

"Don't listen to (DAP's) Tony Pua, Hannah Yeoh as they say I am the worst CEO in the world, as in 'Si botak Arul Kanda tak guna'," he quips.

He also denies Mahathir Mohamad's claims that RM42 billion was stolen from the firm, saying it was just a debt.

Arul Kanda will take questions from the floor later, saying there will be no cover-up as far as 1MDB is concerned.

Incumbent MP launches performance card

4pm: Petaling Jaya - Pakatan Harapan candidate for Klang Charles Santiago (centre in photo) launches his 10 years performance card as MP from 2008 to 2018.

In a statement, he says he has been championing issues such as affordable healthcare, decent living wage, human rights and various local issues for instance land, housing, flood, education and water. 

He lists the 10 issues he has been championing:

  • Affordable healthcare
  • Business opportunities for B40 Indian Women and Youth. B40 is the income classification of those with a household income of below RM 3,900.
  • Highlighting people's issues to Parliament
  • Death-in-custody and police brutality
  • Free and fair elections
  • Right to water
  • Better jobs and higher salaries for Malaysians
  • Mother-tongue education
  • Fairer trade deals for Malaysia
  • Meet-the-people’ sessions

Among these ten, he says he "led a campaign with NGOs and successfully pressured the government to reduce prices of Hepatitis C medicine from RM300,000 to RM1,128 for each patient."

"I campaigned to stop deaths in police custody and pressured for a public inquiry into the death of S Balamurugan, and was at the forefront of the battle against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)," he states.

Umno vets probed for gov't criticism, opposition support

3.39pm: Petaling Jaya -  Umno will probe party veterans who appear to support the opposition coalition more, and who have been making statements against the caretaker government.

Utusan Online quotes Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (photo) as saying Umno is a just party and will investigate those involved first.

However, he warns that those found to have violated party ethics and regulations will face strict action.

"There have been cases where they have attended (opposition events) as friends and not in their capacity of leader or politician. So we will investigate," he is quoted saying.

He is responding to queries if the party will take action against three Umno veterans - former ministers Daim Zainuddin, Rafidah Aziz and Rais Yatim (picture) over their vocal support for the opposition.

Hadi: Vote for the moon, the symbol of unity

2.30pm: Paya Jaras, Sungai Buloh - PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang criticises the move by Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad in penning a letter to the security and armed forces.

He calls upon the security personnel not to be afraid to throw their votes and make a change.

"Once, he (Mahathir) forced the army and police (to vote for BN) but now he wants to convince them (to vote for Harapan)," Hadi states to a crowd of some 150 people at a food stall here.

Instead, he calls on voters to vote for PAS' moon logo as it is a symbol of loyalty.

"Harapan (logo) incorporates a bruised eye. There's blue, there's red because he (Anwar Ibrahim) got punched. The weird thing is, the one who did the punching and the one who got punched are now united," he adds.

Tian Chua to make important announcement tonight 

12.28pm: Jalan Duta court complex, Kuala Lumpur - PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who is at the High Court to challenge his disqualification, informs reporters that he will make an important announcement tonight.

"The announcement is to ensure that Batu (parliamentary seat) would not fall to BN. We will ensure the seat goes to Pakatan Harapan."

He says the announcement will be made at a ceramah near UTC in Bandar Baru Sentul.

Sources indicate that he may endorse either one of the independent candidates in Batu, following the decision by the returning officer to bar him from contesting.

Hadi: No private jet, no puncture

11.50am: Kuala Lumpur - PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang takes a subtle jab at Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, while posting on Facebook, photographs of him boarding an AirAsia flight to travel for campaigning in the 14th general election. 

"We have no private jet, we board budget flights with laymen. God willing, it is safer and guaranteed, there will be no punctured tyres," he writes. 

This is an obvious reference to Mahathir, who shuttles around in chartered private jets for campaigning and recently blamed BN of trying to sabotage his bid to travel to Langkawi, where he is contesting, by puncturing the tyres to one of the jets he was supposed to board. 

Caretaker Johor MB officiates four bridges, denies election handout

11.40am: Ledang, Johor - Johor caretaker menteri besar Khaled Nordin officiates four narrow bridges in Gambir - the state seat that is being contested by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

The four bridges in Jalan Sengkang cost RM16.8 million in total and began construction in 2016 before being completed in April this year.

"This has nothing to do with the elections. Construction was complete so surely we would not let others take credit for it," Khaled says in his speech adding that the successful completion of the project showed the Johor BN state government's capabilities.

After officiating the bridge, Khaled then distributed zero-interest and zero-service fee student loans from the Johor Education Foundation (YPJ) to 12 students from the Tangkak district worth RM57,025 per semester.

Also present were BN candidates for Gambir, M Asojan; Serom, Abdul Rahim Talib; and Ledang incumbent Hamim Samuri.

11.30am - Kota Sarang Semut, Kedah - Reminding that Islam is against making promises that one cannot keep, PAS Sungai Limau candidate Mohd Azam bin Abd Samat highlights a list of ten promises that BN failed to deliver to Kedah.

It includes promises to build Bandaraya Getah (Rubber City) to support the latex industry, a hospital in Pendang, an international airport in Kulim, a race track plus other projects and welfare programmes.

"So what guarantee is there that promises in the Kedah BN manifesto for the 14th general election would be implemented once they win?" he tells a press conference at the Kedah PAS headquarters.

Kok and team 'shortform' Tun M and Guan Eng to dodge EC rules

11.10am: Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur - Incumbent Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has seemingly found a way to cover up, quote literally, Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's face, on the billboards in her constituency, in order to not flout the Election Commission's rules. 

Writing on Facebook, she says she received calls from the EC to take down a billboard with Mahathir's photo, together with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. After negotiating with EC officials, party members were allowed to cover the photos themselves. 

The solution - pasting a black piece of paper with the short form of the two leaders' names (Tun M and LGE) over their faces.

Specify the number of postal voters, Wan Azizah tells EC

11.00am: Kuala Lumpur - Pakatan Harapan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail asks the Election Commission to specify the number of postal voters for every constituency in the country. 

"I take note that the EC has already taken postal votes on May 1, 2018, involving 11 government agencies. 

"However, the EC is yet to announce and officially gazette the total number of postal voters for every polling constituency, nationwide. 

"Why have they not announced it?" she asks, further urging the EC to do so with immediate effect. 

"The announcement and gazetting must be done before the ballot paper is given to the returning officer. Failure to do so raises suspicions."

Tian Chua's challenge against Batu candidacy to be heard

10.35am: Kuala Lumpur - At the Kuala Lumpur High Court, the challenge by Tian Chua for not being allowed to defend his Batu Parliamentary seat is expected to be heard before Justice Nordin Hassan.

He will be represented by Gurdial Singh Nijhar, Latheefa Koya and Lim Wei Jiet.

Senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh will lead the team for the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The court is filled to the brim while about 70 of Tian Chua's supporters are waiting outside due to the court due to the lack of space. 

Nik Nazmi calls for DBKL elections

9.22am: Petaling Jaya - Harapan's PKR candidate for Setiawangsa Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad reiterates his call for reforms to be made to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), among which the introduction of local council election, "to provide better living standards and greater transparency in governance".

He says this in regard to calls by NGOs Selamatkan KL to gazette the KL 2020 City Plan to address issues of excessive development, which he says affects residents of Bukit Dinding and Taman Tiara Titiwangsa, both areas within the Setiawangsa constituency.

"In fact, the majority of Kuala Lumpur has voted for change since 2008. However, because there is no local elected authority, the people of Kuala Lumpur do not have the privilege of enjoying policy changes like the people in neighbouring Selangor.

"This has led to local residents voicing out and demanding change. Relative to other states, the problem in the Federal Territory is more profound as there is a democratic deficit.

"In the Federal Territory, the rakyat does not have the right to vote for a local elected authority," he says in a statement.

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