GE14 LIVE DAY 11 | It's Day 11, the last day of the 14th general election campaign period.
This is the final shot for candidates and political parties to sway voters, as all campaigning activities must cease by 11.59pm.
Tomorrow, the nation votes in what is being called the 'battle for Malaysia'.
Follow our live blog as the Malaysiakini team brings you the news as it takes place.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Guan Eng: 'Dr M proves we didn't buy votes like Najib'
- Dr M: Up to the rakyat to save the country tomorrow
- Public holidays on Monday and Tuesday, says Najib
- Najib: Income tax exemption for those under 26
- ‘M'sia can’t be fixed by removing one person, propping up another'
- DAP claims sites under cyber attack
- Indonesians warned to exercise caution on polling day
- Rafizi claims website hacked, data wiped
- MCA: Don't fall for fake audio clip of 'Liow' backing Harapan
- Noh Omar says BN can deliver on three-month bonue promise if it gets Selangor back
- PAS claims Thais were paid and brought in lorries to vote
11.59pm: The campaign period is officially over. Thank you for following our live updates throughout. Follow us again tomorrow when Malaysia goes to the polls for the "mother of all elections."
Guan Eng: 'Dr M proves we didn't buy votes like Najib'
11.00pm: Georgetown, Penang - Thousands at the Esplanade sit down on the field and listen intently to Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's speech, which was broadcast live nationwide.
The livestream is interrupted only twice and goes on clearly, much to the satisfaction of the crowd.
Caretaker Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng says Mahathir's speech held no promises, unlike that of caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who announced in his own speech that there would be five toll-free days during this year’s upcoming Hari Raya celebrations, among other goodies.
"Dr M proved we did not buy votes like Najib, it is very irresponsible, and they have violated election rules.
"However, no action will be taken as long as he is prime minister, he would do anything to win, do you want a prime minister like this? So go out and vote," he adds.
In his speech, Guan Eng also thrashes state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow for purportedly urging voters to only vote for Chinese candidates.
Teng had earlier said that if Lim were to be jailed over his corruption charges, there would be no Chinese chief minister, adding that PKR would join hands with Umno to form the state government.
"This is a racist statement like what PAS says, to only vote in Muslim candidates. We must reject such racist and chauvinistic statements, whether it is from Gerakan or Umno," he says.
Over 5,000 gather in Johor Jaya to watch final address
11pm: Johor Jaya, Johor - A Chinese-majority crowd of 5,000 gather in Johor Jaya on the eve of polling day.
Despite Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s speech being interrupted few times due to a slow internet connection, the crowds do not leave, but stay to wave PKR flags instead.
Cars and trucks passing by blare their horns in support.
Dr M: Up to the rakyat to save the country tomorrow
10.30pm: Kuah, Langkawi - Dr Mahathir Mohamad completes his final address before polling.
In his speech, Mahathir says that the people have to realise the damage that the current administration has wrought on the country.
And to save the country, he adds, the rakyat have to do it through the ballot box.
Mahathir also reveals he had been asked to rest, but many also urged him to do something to save the country.
“There are so many statements made by so many people inside and outside the country regarding the bad things that the government is doing.
“Waves upon waves of people have come to see me, asking that I do something to save our beloved country. I didn’t have the heart to let them down,” he says.
At the close of his speech, he is brought out of Dewan Ho Peng while 5,000 supporters march behind him.
Shouts of “Pakatan Harapan,” “Hidup Tun” (Long live Tun), and “Undur Najib” (Move aside, Najib) ring out.
Ignore news of 'bad consequences' with Harapan win, says Lip Eng
10.30pm: Kepong, Kuala Lumpur - Pakatan Harapan candidate in Kepong, Lim Lip Eng, tells some 400 voters to be brave enough to vote for Harapan.
The heavy traffic jams and packed public transport show that many voters are coming back to vote for a change, he says.
Lim brushes off messages warning that BN's defeat may lead to bad consequences, calling such messages "fake news."
Those in power will not resort to stupidity as they know the world is watching, he adds.
"So, we just go out and vote... the foreign governments will protect you.
Lim also calls for overwhelming support from voters, asking them to make his BN rival Ong Siang Liang lose his deposit.
Kepong has an electorate of 72,696 voters, 89 percent of which are Chinese.
Najib announces five toll-free days for Raya
10.26pm: Pekan, Pahang - Caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak offers Malaysians five days without tolls for Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year.
He says the toll-free period will start two days before Aidilfitri and end two days after.
Najib also proposes that the coming Monday and Tuesday be declared public holidays.
"This is to reward the hard work of all BN machinery, the opposition, and all Malaysians," he says in his second piece of good news in his final address before polling day.
He adds it is also for Malaysians to make preparations for the coming Ramadhan fasting month.
Najib says that for states that are off on Friday and Saturday, the special off days will fall on Sunday and Monday.
Port Klang hopeful sheds tears when outlining his vision
10.15pm: Port Klang, Selangor - After Harapan Port Klang candidate Aznizam Zaman Huri sheds tears as he talks about his vision for the state seat, he leads the 1,000 or so gathered before him in chants of “Pakatan Harapan!”
Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s final address before polling day is then streamed live from a large screen on the stage.
The livestream breaks off occasionally, but the audience is silent as they listen intently.
Najib: Income tax exemption for those under 26
10.10pm Pekan, Pahang - Caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's first piece of last-minute "good news" for Malaysians is income tax exemption for all youths under the age of 26.
"If BN gets the mandate... Those who are aged 26 below don't have to pay income tax starting from tax year 2017.
"This means last year's tax money will be returned in full," Najib says in his final address on the eve of polling day.
Crowds in Ipoh undeterred by rain
10am: Ipoh, Perak – The thousands gathered at Harapan’s ceramah perdana in Ipoh are watching Mahathir’s final address on a big screen, undeterred by the drizzle.
Some open their umbrellas, while others choose to ignore the rain. A din of vuvezelas is heard at intervals during the speech.
The rain clears by the time the speech is over, and Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming prepares to address the crowd.
200 attend PAS grand finale in Seri Gombak
10pm: Seri Gombak, Selangor - Selangor PAS holds their "Grand Finale" ceramah with about 200 supporters in attendance.
Taking centre stage is former Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who has been lending his support to the Islamist party for the GE14 election campaign.
Also in the line-up of leaders are Selangor PAS elections director Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir, Gombak PAS division chief Salehhuddin Nasir, as well as representatives from Gagasan Sejahtera allies Berjasa and Ikatan.
"...if by God's will we succeed to take over Selangor after tomorrow, what we will do is to continue and implement all existing agendas which have benefited the people.
"Wherever there are areas that need to be improved, we will do better than what we have done so far," says Salehhuddin, the opening speaker.
Nur Jazlan denies that clearance system at checkpoint is down
10pm: Pulai, Johor - Caretaker deputy home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed dismisses a rumour that the Automated Clearance System at the Johor Causeway is malfunctioning.
"No lah. I checked with the Immigration Department. There are no jams or queues there.
"Ask the people to check Causeway's camera if there is jam entering Johor Bahru," the BN candidate for Pulai tells Malaysiakini via a WhatsApp message.
He was responding to a video clip circulating on social media purportedly shows long queues in front of customs.
1,500 Umno members jump ship to Bersatu
9.50pm: Kuah, Langkawi - Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad accepts the membership of 1,500 new Bersatu recruits who jumped ship from Umno.
The submission of membership forms is carried out in front of about 3,000 Harapan supporters.
They also shout out “Hidup Pakatan Harapan!” (Long live Harapan), “Hidup Tun” (Long live Tun) and wave Jalur Gemilang when the forms are handed over.
Mahathir is about to deliver his final address before the polls tomorrow, which will be broadcast live.
Multiple Harapan ceramah around the country are screening the address.
‘M'sia can’t be fixed by removing one person, propping up another’
9.30pm: Kuala Lumpur - PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's final message for Malaysians on the eve of polling day is that the country's problems cannot be solved by removing or propping up certai individuals.
"All our countries problems require a holistic solution and a reform of the system.
"It can't be solved by just removing someone or propping up an individual," Hadi says in his message, aired through Facebook live.
Hadi says the PAS-led Gagasan Sejahtera and its plans for a technocrat government has holistic solutions to problems like corruption and rising cost of living, as highlighted by its manifesto.
He believes the coalition can fulfil this if given the mandate by the people tomorrow.
"Be confident, and join me and Gagasan Sejahtera," he says.
9.20pm: Esplanade, Penang - Former minister Rafidah Aziz arrives to loud cheers from the crowd. Accompanying her is DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
Rafidah calls for “Ubah” (change), DAP's battle cry, explaining that it means "give a new contract to Pakatan Harapan."
"That's the same thing I say everywhere," she says.
Rafidah states that Malaysians have a chance to make history tomorrow, adding that they must keep the Penang government run by Pakatan Harapan in power.
But she tells the crowd she will not go into length about 1MDB. "If you do not know about 1MDB, which planet are you from?” she asks.
She also reminds voters of the power they possess.
"You are making a promise to yourself, not to Mahathir. You are voting for your future. Vote so that we have enough parliamentarians and assemblypersons for Penang.”
Rafidah also reveals the reason why she came out to speak for DAP. "It was when I heard that DAP decided to sacrifice its logo and contest under one logo," referring to Harapan component parties using the PKR symbol as its common logo.
Mahathir arrives in Langkawi for final address
9.11pm: Kuah, Langkawi - Harapan chairperson arrives in Dewan Ho Peng in Kuah for his final address before the nation goes to the polls tomorrow.
About 2,000 people of all races shout out “Hidup Tun!” (Long live Tun) and wave the Jalur Gemilang.
Accompanying Mahathir are the Harapan candidates for Kuah, Mohd Firdaus Ahmad, and for Ayer Hangat, Juhari Bulat.
Crowd in Klang watch broadcast of Mahathir’s final address
9pm: Port Klang, Selangor - A racially diverse crowd of about 700 have gathered in front of a large screen in front of a row of shops in Port Klang to witness Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s final address before polling day tomorrow.
Mahathir’s 10pm address will be streamed live from Langkawi, Kedah.
Before Harapan Klang candidate Charles Santiago begins his speech, he asks the crowd “Sedia untuk tumbang BN?” (Are you ready to topple BN?)
“Sedia!” the crowd shouts excitedly.
Ipoh gets ready for Dr M’s Langkawi address
9.00pm: Ipoh, Perak - Pakatan Harapan hold a ceramah perdana tonight at Ipoh as their final grand ceramah before polling day.
It attracts a crowd of thousands to the city centre. The crowd opens their umbrellas feeling a slight drizzle from above.
Harapan leaders are taking turns giving speeches on stage.
"Tomorrow is our chance to change the corrupted government. Everyone must come out to vote," Ipoh Barat incumbent M Kulasegaran says in his speech.
As with other Harapan ceramahs around the country, large screens are being set up to broadcast Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s final address.
Perak is a marginal state, as BN won 31 state seats in the last general election compared to Pakatan Rakyat’s 28.
Roses for Syerleena
9pm: Esplanade, Penang: The emcee announces that Seri Delima candidate Syerleena Abdul Rashid has received RM2,000 in donations from her supporters to give roses to mothers on Mother’s Day.
Pengkalan Kota candidate Daniel Gooi leads the excited crowd to sing the Penang state anthem "Untuk Negara Kita."
‘Are we more united or divided under the opposition?’
9pm: Petaling Jaya, Selangor - A final BN ceramah being held at the Seapark commercial centre attracts some 200 people, with majority of them middle-aged and elderly.
Taking to stage, BN candidate for Damansara Ryan Ho admits he once supported the opposition coalition. He says, however, that they are unable to unite the country.
"Back in 2008, I used to be a Pakatan supporter. Like many of you, we want a country that is harmonious and free from corruption.
"But in ten long years since then, are we more united or are we more divided? Where is the harmony that promised to us?” he asks the crowd.
"I am here standing in front of you because there is too much hate, and we must move away from the politics of hate, we must rise above anger and resentment.
"Why are we seeking to divide ourselves, why are we letting the spin doctors spin stories just to divide us?" he asks.
He concedes that it will be an uphill task to face a heavyweight, Harapan incumbent Tony Pua, but insists he will not be deterred.
Food is also served to the attendees.
Crowd starts pouring in for Penang Harapan's final address
8.40pm: Esplanade, Penang - A carnival-like atmosphere permeates through the Esplanade as a big crowd gathers for Pakatan Harapan's final ceramah.
Harapan supporters wave PKR's light blue flags, studded with twinkling lights, and sound their vuvuzelas.
The ceramah has only just begun with Bukit Mertajam candidate Steven Sim giving the first speech.
Chants of "Pakatan Harapan" and "Pakatan menang" (Harapan to win) ring out.
Sim reminds the crowd how BN and its coalition partners have tried to sow discord, pointing to state chief Teng Chang Yeow saying that there will be no Chinese chief minister if Lim Guan Eng goes to jail.
"Down with BN!" he exclaims, and the crowd cheers in return.
Lim is expected to arrive later at 10pm. He is currently in Butterworth, also the scene of a large ceramah crowd before polling day tomorrow.
DAP claims sites under cyber attack
8.30pm: Kuala Lumpur - DAP claims its website and news portal are under attack.
"We wish to inform the media that the DAP website (Dapmalaysia.org) and its BM news portal (Roketkini.com) has been under attack by unknown parties.
"The service provider alerted us at 4.24pm on a massive DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack which was targeting the server IP address directly. The attack was large enough to interrupt the network of the data centre," the party says in a statement.
A DDoS attack is a deliberate attempt to disrupt an online service by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources.
The party claims it is a concerted attempt to prevent DAP from publishing important information and the public from accessing its website.
"We are currently working to get both sites back up online and will update on the situation when it recovers," it says.
Bugaya candidate pulls out, will back BN
8.05pm: Semporna, Sabah - Abdul Muksin Mohamad Hasan, who was slated to contest the Bugaya state seat as an independent, has withdrawn from contesting in GE14, and will now back BN.
Bernama reports Muksin as saying that only BN could bring progress to the people of Semporna.
Bugaya is a state seat under the Semporna parliamentary constituency, which is being contested by Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Muksin brings along 200 of his supporters to an event in Kampung Idani, but does not state what BN component party they will join. Also present at the event is the BN candidate for the seat, Razak Sakaran Dandai.
With Muksin’s withdrawal, Bugaya will see a five-cornered fight, which also involves Warisan’s Manis Buka Mohd Darah.
Ex-Johor DAP chief files police report over bottle threat
8pm: Johor Bahru, Johor - Former Johor DAP chief Boo Cheng Hau lodges a police report after a bottle containing stones and paint was hurled at his house in Johor Bahru.
Boo says the bottle contained a message in Chinese written in red paint, which warned him to "keep quiet" after he was dropped as DAP's candidate in the 14th general election.
The message read: “Boo, you weren't nominated, don't make noise, don't disturb Lim (Kit Siang). Keep quiet. This time it's an empty bottle, the next time there will be certain contents... this is the last warning".
Indonesians warned to exercise caution on polling day
6pm: Johor Bahru, Johor - The Indonesian consulate-general in Johor Bahru issues a precautionary notice to its citizens working and residing in Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang ahead of polling day tomorrow.
According to the notice, Indonesians are advised to exercise increased caution and keep their outside activities to a minimum.
They are also advised to avoid large crowds, carry their identification documents and passports with them, abide by Malaysian laws, and immediately contact the consulate in the event of any emergency.
Heavy traffic as voters head home for the polls
5pm: Petaling Jaya, Selangor - Several traffic-monitoring channels report heavy traffic flow across major highways in the central region towards the north and south as voters make their way back for polling tomorrow.
Plus Trafik tweets that there is heavy traffic after Kuala Kangsar, towards the Bukit Berapit and Bukit Gantang rest area towards Changkat Jering, as well as along the Penang bridge heading to Perai.
In the central region, Plus Trafik records heavy traffic in Bukit Lanjan to Rawang, Rawang to Sg Buaya to Bukit Beruntung, Bukit Beruntung to Sg Buaya, Slim River to Sungkai, Tapah to Gopeng, as well as after Kajang towards Bangi, Putra Mahkota to Nilai, and Bandar Ainsdale to Seremban.
In Johor, LLM Trafik reports heavy traffic at the Skudai toll plaza heading towards Kulai.
According to reports, the number of passengers at the Larkin bus terminal in Johor Baru increased by 50 percent today.
In Kelantan, Bernama reports slow traffic along Jalan Sultan Ibrahim in Kota Bharu with the arrival of voters from out of state.
They also report that there is an overall increase in traffic flow across several major highways.
Rafizi claims website hacked, data wiped
4pm: Pandan, Kuala Lumpur: PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli takes to Twitter to claim that his blog has been hacked, and all its information erased.
“Yesterday, I shared a link to my blog on the documents from the audited financial reports on the 1MDB, Tabung Haji, Felda, LTAT scandals.
“Today, my whole blog was hacked and all the information erased,” his tweet read.
Rafizi also shares a screengrab of a report from his blog hosting service, stating that the “extensive” hack involved removal of data, which they say is far more serious than a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.
By 5.30pm, however, the blog was back online.
MCA: Don't fall for fake audio clip of 'Liow' backing Harapan
3.15pm: Petaling Jaya, Selangor: MCA denies that its president Liow Tiong Lai has urged voters to support Pakatan Harapan candidates.
The party headquarters' election operation room was notified by members of the public of a circulating audio clip, purporting to be of Liow urging voters to pick Harapan at the polls.
"We are sternly stating that this is false and spreading fake information is in mala fide. It is done to confuse MCA members and supporters," the party says on Twitter.
Last week, MCA had to urge members of the public not to be deceived by fake phone calls claiming Liow would defect to Harapan.
534 ceramah held in Kedah so far
2.30pm: Alor Setar, Kedah - The various political parties contesting in Kedah have held a total of 534 ceramahs throughout the state so far, says Kedah police media relations officer Ab Rahaman Arsad.
Of these, BN held 239 ceramahs since nomination day, while Pakatan Harapan held 193, and PAS 102.
Rahaman tells a press conference at the Kedah police headquarters that police have also received 91 police reports pertaining to election campaigning, for which 16 investigation papers were opened.
Two suspects have been arrested and subsequently released on police bail.
Of the 91 reports, most involve mischief against items such as flags and banners, while eight pertain to either the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 or defamation, ten on criminal trespass, three on disturbances (kacau ganggu), and 34 on miscellaneous complaints.
For polling day tomorrow, Rahaman says the Kedah police will deploy 4,463 of its members to keep the peace.
They will be assisted by Bukit Aman’s Special Branch and criminal investigation department, two public order and riot units, a federal reserve unit, and an air unit based in Ipoh.
He reminded voters to obey police instructions and help keep the peace, and political parties not to hold any victory marches or any campaigning. Polling and tallying centres are also off-limits to drones.
Noh Omar: BN can deliver three months' civil servant bonus
2.30pm: Petaling Jaya - Selangor BN chairperson Noh Omar says BN can realise its promise of awarding civil servants up to three months' bonus should BN wrest the state back from Pakatan Harapan.
In a post in the 'Noh Omar' section of the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry website, the caretaker minister claims Harapan already owes Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd RM4.6 billion, while the state reserves stand at just about RM4 billion.
"BN's promise is more convincing as we can realise it," he states
'Number of votes trump number of posters'
1.15pm: Muar, Johor - Incumbent Muar MP Razali Ibrahim pokes fun at the abundance of Pakatan Harapan posters in the constituency compared to BN.
"They accuse us of being thieves and robbers... But they have so many posters, I don't know where they got the money (to put these up).
"Yes, we don't have a lot of posters because voters keep our posters in their homes, bathrooms, and living rooms, because they love us and don't want to leave our (posters) by the roadside," he says in jest at a gathering of BN election machinery in Muar today.
Besides, he adds, what counts in an election are not posters but votes.
Libellous Azmin Ali booklets make appearance
1pm: Pantai Permai, Lembah Pantai - Harapan Lembah Pantai candidate Fahmi Fadzil says he came across slanderous campaign booklets bearing the face of PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali on the cover while on walkabouts this morning.
The booklets, he says, contain images and articles disputing Azmin’s integrity.
Fahmi claims during a press conference that he is "200 percent sure this is not internal sabotage" and that it blatant political slander that is used to confuse the rakyat.
He adds that he had lodged a police report at the Jalan Travers police station, and urges that action be taken against the parties responsible.
Tian Chua to EC, DBKL: Restore buntings immediately
12.30pm: Kuala Lumpur - Incumbent Batu MP Tian Chua claims his campaign workers have been intimidated and threatened with arrest by the Election Commission and Kuala Lumpur City Hall for putting up banners in the voting district.
He also states that banners in several areas within the voting district have been removed.
In a statement, Tian Chua further alleges Harapan-backed independent candidate P Prabakaran was never informed why these campaign materials were deemed inappropriate and "ripped off", while those of BN and PAS were left untouched.
"Seems to me like the authorities are using this opportunity to not allow the residents in Batu to see these banners and buntings," he says, and calls on all removed materials to be restored in their original locations at once.
Najib says Paca's presence sign of electoral transparency
11.30am: Petaling Jaya - Caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak pays tribute to volunteers who will serve as polling and counting agents (Paca) in tomorrow's polls, saying their participation is a reflection of the level of transparency and integrity of the country's electoral system.
In a blog posting, Najib, who is also BN chairperson, deemed Paca volunteers the "eye and ears of the candidates," watching every process of the election from start to finish.
"They (Paca) are given a copy of the voter registration roll to verify the identity of all voters present and each ballot paper shown to them during counting," he explains and adds that all contesting parties engage such volunteers to ensure the rights of the party and their chosen candidate are not denied.
"Indirectly, this shows our electoral system is transparent, holding to the principles of integrity that is enshrined in every democracy," Najib says.
PAS claims Thais brought in to vote
11am: Petaling Jaya - Tanah Merah PAS alleges to have detected from 200 to 300 Thai nationals being brought into the country to vote in the 14th general elections tomorrow.
It further claims that the men were transported on five lorries, which in turn were allegedly accompanied by two cars plastered with a political coalition logo and taken to a national training institute building compound when they were detected.
In claiming this, PAS organ Harakah daily posts an image of a group of men sitting on the floor outside of a building, although it is unclear what building that is.
Its website quotes party Tanah Merah committee member Mohd Zaki Mat Zain as saying PAS members waited till 2am, and contacted the Tanah Merah police who found the men.
However, aside from saying the men told them they were brought in and were being paid to vote for that coalition, PAS did not furnish further proof.
Chef Wan cooks up smiles at Ayer Hitam
10am: Ayer Hitam - Celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, makes a pitstop in Ayer Hitam to hold a cooking demonstration for residents there.
In a Facebook posting this morning, Harapan's Ayer Hitam candidate Liew Chin Tong shares some shots of the celebrity chef in action, at the event also attended by Harapan's Yong Peng state seat candidate Chew Peck Choo.
Although this isn't the first time the internationally-renowned chef has attended a cooking demonstration alongside Harapan candidates, he denies frying up support for the opposition in this general election.
Veterans' group praises cops for job well done
9.21am: Petaling Jaya - Veterans group Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot) reminds all voters to ignore reports indicating possible disturbances tomorrow, but to proceed to the ballots without fear and with confidence that their votes are secret.
The group further commends the Malaysian police force for a job well done in maintaining order and peace throughout the election campaign period.
"Knowing how the Royal Malaysian Police work and their abilities, we have full confidence in the abilities of our officers in blue. We are confident that should any unwanted elements arise trying to cause strife and disturbances during the election process, the police will thwart their plans and arrest them," Patriot says in a statement today.
However, it also reminds the Election Commission of its oath to office, and thus to ensure that all of its officers, even those with political affiliations, will carry out their duties fairly and without bias.
