Day 3 | Umno sacks 4 for running in GE against party’s candidates

GE15 LIVE DAY 3 | It's Day 3 of the 15th general election campaign period, and there are 11 days to go before polling day.

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

It’s ‘jalan-jalan pasar malam’ for four Bayan Baru candidates

8.30pm: Bayan Baru, Penang - Four of six candidates coincidentally have their walkabouts in Bukit Gedong night market tonight.

However, things go peacefully as the candidates greet and bless each other before continuing to meet with voters.

The candidates are Jeff Ooi (Warisan), Sim Tze Tzin (Pakatan Harapan), Oh Tong Keong (Perikatan Nasional) and Saw Yee Fung (BN).

Warisan denies cooperating with Umno, Pejuang

8.10pm: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – Warisan will be taking legal action against those behind a voice message being circulated that claimed the party is secretly cooperating with Umno and Pejuang.

Warisan’s Chinese affairs coordinator Chin Tek Ming says the message is “slander” and appeals to the public not to listen to misleading rumours, especially from self-proclaimed “political analysts”.

“In this GE15, Umno is contesting in 11 parliamentary seats in Sabah, one in Labuan. Pejuang is contesting 15 seats in Sabah, one in Labuan while Warisan is standing in 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah, one in Labuan.

“If there is indeed cooperation between Warisan and Pejuang, how can Warisan be contesting in all parliamentary seats in Sabah?

“If there is cooperation, will Mahathir still come to Sabah today to be on the ground and stand for the candidates of Pejuang?” Chin says in a statement today.

Flags and billboards vandalised

7pm: Flags and billboards for candidates are reported to be destroyed in several areas, including Johor and Malacca.

BN candidate for Kluang, Gan Ping Sieu has posted pictures on Facebook which showed his billboard fell down on the field.

"My heart breaks to see this situation. It's okay, I'll always stand firm.

"If there is an evil intention from any side, let the authorities take action," reads Gan’s post.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan Ayer Hitam candidate Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali also mentions that 200 out of 300 Harapan flags have been uprooted and thrown in a ditch at Kg Parit Kuari.

Sheikh Umar says a local youth told him about the flags in the ditch this morning. The flags were just installed by the party’s workers the night before.

"Our staff worked until 2am today. We are very disappointed with this kind of gangster politics.

"I have also instructed the officers of Pakatan Harapan Ayer Hitam not to take any retaliatory actions beyond the boundaries of the election law," Sheikh Umar writes in a Facebook post.

In Malacca, Harapan Kota Melaka candidate Khoo Poay Tiong tells the media that 10 flags from his coalition have been found with scorched marks this morning.

Umno sacks 4 for running in GE against party’s candidates

6.15pm: Umno is sacking four of its members for running in the election against the party's candidates, in line with Article 20.11 of the party's constitution.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan says the four are Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar), Shahidan Kassim (Arau), Ismail Abd Muttalib (Maran) and Azhar Ahmad (Kuala Perlis).

The party is also investigating those seen accompanying the candidates during nomination day last Saturday before further action can be taken against them, Ahmad said, noting that such actions can be considered as showing support for an opposing party.

Come rain or shine: BN’s JB candidate meets traders despite downpour

5.30pm: Kg Melayu Majidee, Johor Bahru - The pouring rain doesn’t stop BN Johor Bahru candidate Johan Ropi from meeting with traders at the Kg Melayu Majidee night market.

The walkabout was initially supposed to start at 4pm but the rain has already started all across town and has not ceased.

In the meantime, a campaign vehicle is seen parked in the area, with Johan's campaign message and the BN song playing from its speakers.

With the rain showing no signs of stopping, Johan and his machinery of some 20 BN supporters continue with their market walkabout, ending at the Medan Niaga Kg Melayu.

Speaking to reporters, Johan says while the Johor Bahru seat is currently held by Pakatan Harapan's Akmal Nasir, there is still room for voters to consider a new candidate.

"Johor Bahru is a great city and it is sad to see Akmal fail to utilise its high potential," says the architect by profession.

Ayer Kuning’s PSM candidate declares asset

5:15pm: Chenderiang, Perak - PSM candidate for the Ayer Kuning state seat Bawani KS declares her asset in a ceremony held at Pusat Perniagaan Air Kuning today.

The state PSM chairperson declares RM992.50 worth of net assets after deducting RM47,570.90 in debt from her total assets worth RM48,563.40.

Explaining the breakdown, she says she has a Proton Bezza worth RM29,000 and a mobile phone Oppo Reno 5 Pro worth RM2,100.

In addition, the party deputy secretary-general has RM17,463.40 in bank savings.

She has a car loan worth RM27,320.90 left and an education loan worth RM20,250, totalling RM47,570.90 left to be paid.

She also reveals that he monthly salary as a lawyer is RM5,000 and her total EPF savings up until Nov 1 is RM12,189.41

Bawani says this is in accordance with PSM’s tradition since the 1999 general election for its candidates to publicly declare their assets.

“This is very important for the rest of the candidates, former MPs and future representatives to declare their assets and for the public to know how much assets they have.”

Apologise to Sheikh Umar, Teresa tells MCA supremo

4.45pm: Incumbent Seputeh MP Teresa Kok urges BN’s Ayer Hitam candidate Wee Ka Siong to apologise to his Harapan counterpart, Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali after his supporters purportedly used a racial slur against the latter on nomination day.

“Wee as the BN candidate should chastise his supporters for attacking Sheikh Umar with such harsh words but regrettably, he has not done so and continues to stay silent on this matter,” Kok says in a statement today.

She reminds the MCA president that Ayer Hitam is a multi-racial constituency, with 58.7 percent Malays, 37.1 percent (Chinese), four percent (Indians) and 0.1 percent others.

“Even if Ayer Hitam has more Malay voters, he as a BN leader and MCA president should display his leadership by upholding the welfare and dignity of all regardless of race or religion.

“As such, Wee should apologise to Sheikh Umar for the actions and statements of his supporters… to show that he and BN do not encourage racist statements by anyone in BN,” she says.

Sheikh Umar previously claimed a group of BN supporters had called him a “Chinese dog” outside the nomination centre, to which he responded by asking them to look at their own shirts bearing Wee’s name.

Harapan’s Gopeng aspirant down with Covid-19

4.40pm: Harapan’s Gopeng candidate Tan Kar Hing confirms testing positive for Covid-19 and will be under home quarantine until Nov 11.

Tan, in a statement, says he was feeling unwell and subsequent results of two self-tests showed he was positive for the coronavirus.

He will conduct upcoming campaigns online and urges all his close contacts to perform self-tests.

PN Rembau candidate confident of making history

4.35pm: Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for Rembau, Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus, is confident of making history by winning the parliamentary seat in GE15.

According to Bernama, the Negeri Sembilan PN leader is optimistic about winning the seat through effective party machinery and with solid support, especially from the young voters, as well as women and senior citizens in the constituency.

"These are people with experience and knowledge who can evaluate the candidates contesting for the seat. I am also confident that PN is able to unite people of all races in the constituency.

"The BN (Barisan Nasional) candidate in Rembau is an old face, but we want new results, I am sure the young people are with us (PN), “ he was quoted after launching the Rembau PN Youth machinery today.

The contest for the Rembau parliamentary seat will witness a five-way fight involving Nazree, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan (BN), Malaysian Youth Council president Jufitri Joha (Harapan), Ramly Awalludin (Pejuang) and S Tinagaran (PSM).

Ronald Kiandee says he is not an opposition candidate

4.30pm: Bersatu vice president Ronald Kiandee who is defending the Beluran parliamentary seat in GE15 under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ticket claims that he is not an opposition candidate.

According to Bernama, Ronald says PN was part of the Sabah government, adding that during the 16th Sabah state election in 2020, the candidates who have joined the state government today have also used the PN logo.

"Component parties under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), except for PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) and Usno (United Sabah National Organisation), are also PN component parties,” he was quoted as saying, adding that it should not be an issue at all.

He says this during a get-together session at Kampung Muanad 3.

GRS which consists of Bersatu, PBS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Usno, is cooperating with BN to rule the state. However, Bersatu, STAR and SAPP, together with PAS and Gerakan are component parties forming the PN coalition.

The outgoing Agriculture and Food Industries Minister says PN is the right platform for elected leaders to continue to raise the aspirations of the Beluran community at the national level.

Ronald says as part of his big agenda, he wanted to ensure continuous development in Beluran and highlight the lack of infrastructure in the rural area.

Describing the five-cornered clash in the Beluran seat as a friendly fight, Ronald says the Sabah people had experienced a similar situation in the previous state election, adding that all parties should be mature and accept the matter.

Ronald is facing Benedict Asmat (BN-UMNO), Rowiena Rasid (Warisan), Hausing Samsudin @ Sudin (Pejuang) and Felix Joseph Saang (The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation [UPKO]-Pakatan Harapan).

Get your act together, Hisham tells Anwar and Rafizi

4.15pm: Incumbent Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein questions if PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Rafizi Ramli are at odds with each other.

This comes after Rafizi predicted Harapan could win 13 to 15 seats in Johor, based on data obtained through surveys by his research company, Invoke Malaysia.

“Anwar said (Harapan could win) 100 (seats) across the country but Rafizi said 80 (seats). It seems that there is no understanding between them.

“I’d like to remind them that there has to be a cohesion - 100 or 80 (seats)? If he (Rafizi) says 15, what does Anwar say?

“I’d like to see if their calculations are the same. If they can’t settle it, what’s the point of me answering?” he says to reporters when asked to comment on the matter.

Hishammuddin was at the multipurpose hall in Kampung Baru, Grisek to help with Pagoh’s BN candidate Razali Ibrahim’s campaign.

Deepak: I will be a vocal MP

4pm: Klang parliamentary seat’s independent candidate, Deepak Jaikishan guarantees to be the most vocal voice in parliament.

The controversial carpet trader and vocal critic of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor adds that he was contesting to “spoil the race”.

Deepak joins six other candidates attempting to oust DAP from its stronghold in GE15.

“I know so many MPs who were not happy to sign the MOU, relinquishing control of the government in 2020 but lacked the courage to follow through.

“This is why I want to contest as an independent candidate and will stay as an independent MP until I find a party that will stand its ground against any wrongdoing, like in the times of the late Karpal Singh.

“I will bow down to no one except God and crack down on corruption and kleptocracy in Malaysia,” he says.

Touting his track record of making exposes against the Najib-Rosmah couple, Deepak says he was not leaving Klang even if he lost the election.

“I will stay and contest in the state legislative assembly,” he promises.

However, Deepak’s road to candidacy had some hitches because although he was a confirmed Pulai candidate for Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) in Johor, a last-minute change of plans saw him nominating himself as an independent for Klang.

In October when he spoke to Malaysiakini to announce his intentions to contest for an MP seat in GE15, Deepak said he was joining the opposition to contest an MP seat to safeguard against false prosecution.

DAP member V Ganabatirau is defending the Harapan seat while others contesting are Dr Jaya Chandran Perumal for PN, Tee Hooi Ling for BN, Loo Cheng Wee (Warisan), S Chandrasegar for (PRM), and another independent, Hedrhin Ramli.

You’re on, Sim tells Saw over debate challenge

3.55pm: Responding to a debate challenge by his BN opponent, Harapan’s candidate for Bayan Baru parliamentary seat Sim Tze Tzin says he was ready for it.

However, he requests the debate to be aired on national TV, with all Bayan Baru aspirants participating in the debate.

"Since we have a six-way contest in Bayan Baru, it is only fair to let everyone debate together,” he says in a statement.

According to Sim, he has yet to receive a formal invitation from his BN challenger, Saw Yee Fung.

Meanwhile, Sim took potshots at caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob over his refusal to debate Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim.

“I am open to a debate with all my opponents, unlike the prime minister who has dodged a challenge from Anwar.

“Ironically, Saw and Ismail Sabri are both are from BN. Can they have some cohesion? She just made the prime minister look really bad,” he says.

Police report lodged against Perak PAS chief

2pm: PKR’s Bagan Serai parliamentary seat candidate, Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail lodged a police report against Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria for allegedly making slanderous remarks against PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

The report was lodged this afternoon at the Kerian district police headquarters in Perak.

Siti Aishah urges the police to investigate the matter as Razman’s remarks were malicious and aimed at tarnishing Harapan and Anwar’s image.

She was referring to the speech made by Razman yesterday during a walkabout at the Tebuk Pancur night market.

Three Harapan state seats candidates were also present with Siti Aishah - Khairul Azman Ahmad (Alor Pongsu), Sheikh Khuzaifah (Gunung Semanggol) and Ahmad Saqif Ansarallah (Selinsing).

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, Perak PKR youth chief Zaim Sidqi Zulkifly says he is also mulling lodging a police report tomorrow in Ipoh.

He says that Razman’s remarks are seditious and it should be investigated by the police.

“During elections, we should campaign in a rational manner and not cause any unnecessary tension among the voters,” he said.

Zaim said the location and time will be informed to the media later.

‘Shameless’, Takiyuddin says over claims Che Abdullah calling himself a PAS member

1.30pm: PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan criticises former leader, Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, who is defending the Tumpat parliamentary seat under the BN ticket.

He reminds PAS members that they were at risk of being axed from the party if found contesting on another party's ticket.

"Shameless, they call themselves PAS members when they aren't. How can a PAS member contest under the BN ticket?" he tells a presser in Kota Bharu today.

It is believed that Takiyuddin was referring to Che Abdullah who allegedly claimed himself as a PAS member while using the BN logo to contest.

Shahidan has not joined PAS, says Takiyuddin

12.50pm: BN’s incumbent Arau MP Shahidan Kassim and incumbent Maran MP Ismail Abd Mutalib, who are defending their seats under the PN ticket, have not joined PAS, says party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

"We issue the appointment letter to candidates allowing them to use the PN ticket under the PAS quota.

"They have yet to become PAS members. But in the election law, they do not necessarily have to be members of the party," he adds.

There is no special agreement between the party and the two former BN representatives involved, Takiyuddin says.

Penang DAP to subsidise travel costs for varsity students

12.45pm: Tanjong, Penang - Penang DAP is offering to sponsor a return trip for tertiary students in the state who are coming back to vote.

The offer is for those travelling more than 50km from Penang's borders and is only applicable for bus and rail fares.

Claimants must make their journey out of Penang before polling day on Nov 19, and return after Nov 19 as well.

Penang DAP in a statement says the subsidies - which can be claimed from today - will be given on a first come first serve basis.

The application can be made through this portal here.

Johor MB issues vessel and fishing licences

12.15pm: Muar, Johor - Johor state Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghani, through the state Fisheries Department, issues 108 vessel and fishing licences to fisherfolk residing in the Muar and Tangkak.

He is accompanied by Helmy Abdul Latif, BN’s Muar candidate at the Muar District Office.

“This proves that the state government, led by the MB, is aware and cares about the plight of Muar’s fisherfolk,” Helmy says on Twitter.

‘Batu Kawan already flooded by the time CM arrives’

12pm: Penang BN chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir jests that homes in Batu Kawan would be “inundated by floods” by the time Harapan candidate Chow Kon Yeow arrived there from Penang island.

This was because Chow has to serve as the chief minister of Penang.

On the other hand, he said that BN’s Batu Kawan aspirant Tan Lee Huat, who is a native there, would rush to the site if anything happens.

Guang Ming Daily reported the BN leader saying this after organising a Pacaba seminar yesterday.

Musa then urged voters to “sympathise” with Chow by not voting for him in Batu Kawan, claiming the latter was too busy serving as Penang’s chief minister.

‘We’ll slaughter 20 cows if Tumpat retained with 20,000 votes majority’

11.30am : PAS pledges to slaughter 20 cattle if the Islamic party retains the Tumpat parliamentary seat with a 20,000-vote majority, says its vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

He is confident that voters in Tumpat will remain loyal to PAS despite incumbent MP, Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, contesting under the BN ticket.

"In the last general election, we won with a 17,000-vote majority, this time we can get 20,000 vote majority. Last time, we were on our own but this time we’re not.

"If we can get 20,000 votes (majority), we will slaughter 20 cattle. It's not impossible, God willing," Amar adds.

In the last general election, Che Abdullah won the seat on a PAS ticket with a comfortable majority of 17,500 votes, defeating BN and Pakatan Harapan candidates.

Tumpat is seeing a five-way fight this time around.

Let’s debate, BN’s Bayan Baru aspirant tells incumbent

11.00am: BN’s candidate for Bayan Baru parliamentary seat, Saw Yee Fung challenges incumbent Sim Tze Tzin from Harapan to a debate on their respective policies and development plan for the constituency.

Time and venue will be set right after Saw announce her own policies and development plan in the next few days.

Show proof that I’m working with Zahid, Anwar tells Dr M

10.30am: PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim denies claims about him forming ties with Umno, saying it was a "false narrative peddled by certain people in BN and Perikatan Nasional".

According to FMT, Anwar demands that they show proof of such negotiations having taken place.

He was responding to Pejuang president Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said he wouldn’t support Pakatan Harapan, claiming Anwar was forming ties with Umno.

“Mahathir said today, ‘It is not that I don’t want to support Harapan, but they are cooperating with Zahid’. This man is asking for it!” Anwar was quoted as saying at a ceramah in Seberang Jaya on Sunday night.

“I’ve been patient with Dr M…Once I become PM on the 20th (the day after polling on Nov 19), the first to get a fever would be him. But of course, I pray for his health.”

Anwar then reiterates that he would never support corrupt people, even if it means he loses the chance to become prime minister.

Mahathir rekindles claims of Anwar-Zahid pact

10am: Former prime minister rehashed his earlier accusations in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah yesterday - claiming Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim is working with certain rivals to ensure the latter ascends the premiership after GE15.

Mahathir alleges that Anwar will help drop Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court cases and free ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak from jail, in return for the top post.

The nonagenarian tells a Kota Kinabalu crowd of talks between Anwar and Zahid that have already transpired, before reminding voters why they should reject Harapan when they go to the polls on Nov 19.

“Why would Anwar become prime minister instead of Zahid?” Malaysia Now reports him as asking.

Answering his own question, Mahathir says, “it’s because the new prime minister will request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to pardon Najib who is languishing in jail, and drop all other charges he is still facing.

“Anwar will also work to get rid of the charges against Zahid and several other BN leaders,” he claims.

Mahathir’s remarks echo those of PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, who warned BN members of a possible cooperation between Zahid and Anwar should BN lack the votes to form a government on its own.

Islam prohibits slander, Asmuni slams Razman for defaming Harapan

9.10am: State PAS chief Razman Zakaria has been criticised for remarks made against Pakatan Harapan, among which claimed that its chairperson Anwar Ibrahim has an LGBT agenda and wants to legalise same-sex marriage.

Perak Amanah chairperson Asmuni Awi slams Razman and stresses that the Islamist party leader should focus on the people’s woes rather than making slanderous remarks.

“He should focus on the people’s issues such as economic issues, rising price of goods, poverty and so on in his campaigns instead of making slanderous comments and causing conflicts,” Asmuni says in a Facebook post.

“Such campaigns should be stopped and Islam prohibits its followers from making slanderous comments because of its negative impact on society,” he says.

The incumbent Manjoi assemblyperson also urges the Election Commission (EC), as well as the police, to investigate Razman.

Razman, who is also Perikatan Nasional’s candidate at the Gunong Semanggol state constituency, made the remarks yesterday during a walkabout at the Tebuk Pancur night market.

Preacher: I’m sorry, Kazim Elias tells Larut voters

Independent preacher Mohd Kazim Elias says he dropped out from the Larut race, owing to a promise he made to his late mother.

Apologising to his supporters and constituents, Harian Metro reports Kazim as saying that he was bound by a promise he made not to contest against family members in the same seat, be it Parliament or state assembly.

Kazim says he made the promise without knowing at the time that his brother, Mohd Najmuddin Elias, is contesting for the Batu Kurau state assembly seat as a Bersatu/PN candidate.

Batu Kurau falls under the Larut parliamentary constituency.

The promise, Kazim adds, was made in a written document.

“I apologise to the voters in Larut and promise to go to there even if it is just as a preacher and help in any way I can. I have family members living in Larut, Kubu Gajah, Batu Kurau and Selama,” he says.

Apparently, the news of Kazim’s last-minute withdrawal did not reach Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ears after the former’s candidacy was announced on Nov 1.

Kazim was subsequently replaced with Shafiq Fhadly Mahmud.

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin is defending the Larut seat, which he won with a 4,486 majority vote under the BN banner in the 2018 general election.

Larut voters will see a four-cornered fight between Hamzah, Shafiq, Harapan’s Zolkharnain Abidin, and GTA’s Ustaz Auzaie.

Candidates well covered in media reports - Annuar

8.40am: Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa says all candidates contesting in GE15 are given equal airtime by government and privately owned media.

Speaking from Kota Bahru, Kelantan, he says the government upholds media freedom as long as reports are made within the legal context, factual and not fake news.

He was responding to several complaints and confusing information daily about the reporting conducted by several broadcasting stations covering non-government parties.

For government agency media, Annuar says the medium was also used to channel news relating to the government of the day, Bernama reported him as saying after presenting aid to storm victims in Kampung Tegayong Melor in Kota Bahru yesterday.

Annuar, however, stresses that government premises and assets cannot be used in the name of political parties.

“It doesn’t matter what party, if you want to use it to contest in the name of the party, you really can’t use government assets and premises.

“But to present government policies and progress in terms of doing your duty as prime minister and ministers, that’s permissible. So there is a bit of confusion,” Annuar says.

One day off if PN wins

8.07am: Perikatan Nasional (PN) pledges that if it wins GE15, there will be a one-day holiday to help voters travel back after voting.

Its chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin says the holiday will be on Sunday for Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Johor - states whose weekends fall on Friday.

Other states with regular weekends will have a holiday on Monday.

He announced this after unveiling PN's manifesto last night.

DAY 1 | Only 13.5pct women candidates for GE15 - EC

Day 2 | Debate on flood on the cards

PN pledges over RM10b for tech investments, agriculture, schools

Muhyiddin claims PN cleaner than Harapan, none on corruption trial

PN offers to reduce PTPTN loans, zero-interest housing loans for youths