PD POLLS DAY 3 | Campaigning by the seven candidates running in the Port Dickson by-election continues today.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the campaigning on the ground.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Saiful starts campaign, meets village heads
- PAS candidate fails to turn up
- Isa Samad hit by sarcastic jibe
- 'My Permatang Pauh supporters cried' - Anwar
- Kula recalls 'nasty' brush with Anwar in 1997
- Isa Samad mistakenly call for votes for BN
- New projects on abandoned sites
12am: Thank you for following our live updates of day three of the Port Dickson by-election campaign. This thread is now closed.
Saiful starts campaign, meets village heads
10.10pm: Bagan Pinang - Independent candidate Saiful Bukhari Azlan kickstarts his campaign by meeting several village heads in the constituency.
Anwar's former aide tells Malaysiakini that his first programme is aimed at greeting local leaders in Bagan Pinang area before he goes into a full-blown campaign with voters.
"This morning I had a campaign meeting, before starting to make my rounds to meet several village heads and leaders of local non-government organisations.
"I believe that this should be the way, to give salam perkenalan first as a sign of respect to the leaders," he says.
Saiful, who went for a walkabout in PD Town earlier, says he will hold a press conference tomorrow.
PAS candidate fails to turn up
9.30pm: Sungai Sekawang - PAS candidate Mohd Nazari Mokhtar is absent at an event organised to introduce him.
The emcee announces that Nazari had to attend an "emergency meeting" and will not be able to attend.
Other PAS leaders present are vice-president Idris Ahmad, Negeri Sembilan commissioner Mustaffa Daharun, Malacca deputy commissioner Halim Maidem.
The event is attended by about 30 supporters.
Isa asks for support, farmer offers chair
6.00pm: Pasar Tani Pasir Panjang - Independent candidate Isa Samad visits local farmers' market (pasar tani) and meets and greets the produce sellers and shoppers.
His campaign team distributes flyers with the chair logo and asks for support.
Isa (photo) repeats that due to Umno deciding to stay away from the by-election, he decided to contest as an independent candidate.
While several locals pledge support, when Isa asked a farmer for support, he sarcastically replies: "You want a chair to sit?"
'My Permatang Pauh supporters cried' - Anwar
5.30pm: Thistle Resort, Port Dickson - Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim says his Permatang Pauh supporters shed tears when they found out he would be contesting in Port Dickson.
“They said to me, we have been with you through highs and lows, thick and thin, and now that you are on your way to becoming the prime minister, you contest at Port Dickson?” Anwar says to a crowd of about 200 people here.
He says he explained to them that even though he has to prioritise Port Dickson now, Permatang Pauh is never far from his heart.
Not only that, he adds when he becomes prime minister, not only does he have to take care of Port Dickson, he would have to take care of the entire country.
Kula recalls 'nasty' brush with Anwar in 1997
4.30pm: Thistle Resort, Port Dickson - Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Anwar Ibrahim’s hi-tea programme here is attended by Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa and DAP national vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran, among others.
The forum-style event is held in a comfortable hotel event hall with a crowd of about 200 people.
In his speech, Kulasegaran recounts the first time he encountered Anwar (photo), when they were on opposite sides in politics.
“I first had a nasty encounter with him (Anwar), that time in 1997 when I contested in Teluk Intan and (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad sent him to finish me off,” he quips, eliciting laughter from everyone.
“I had the pleasure to meet with the prime minister-in-waiting last week to discuss current issues and I was very impressed,” he adds.
He also praises Anwar for seeing all Malaysians as equals, adding that he believes Anwar will do great things as prime minister.
Isa Samad mistakenly call for votes for BN
4pm: Kampung Baru Si Rusa - Independent candidate Isa Samad makes a mistake by calling for votes for BN instead of his own logo - the chair.
The former Umno Teluk Kemang chief says it during his visit to his relatives in the area yesterday night.
He immediately rectifies his error by saying: "It has been so long (campaigning as a BN candidate), (now) I chose the chair (symbol) as I am fighting for a seat," he laughs, according to Harian Metro.
Si Rusa is one of the four polling districts won by BN in the GE14. The then ruling coalition polled 706 votes against PKR's 558 and PAS' 376.
There are 32 polling districts in Port Dickson.
New projects on abandoned sites
12.30pm: Pakatan Harapan operations room – Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim says he will not only bring in new investors and projects to Port Dickson, but also has plans for new projects at existing sites.
"You are right, precisely, this one new project is also on an existing site.
"This has to be seen in a more comprehensive manner," Anwar says when asked about what he intends to do with abandoned projects in the town.
The de facto Harapan leader also reiterates his plans to bring in an education programme, new facilities, an airline and improve the overall structure in Port Dickson.
These projects are unrelated to the government, he stresses, explaining that these are his own initiatives in working with private investors and NGOs.
