Day 7 | Do you know how big RM50b sum is, BN's Kajendran asks Mat Sabu

GE15 LIVE DAY 7 | The 15th general election campaign is halfway through as it enters the seventh day, marking one week left before voters head to the ballot box.

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

11.58pm: Thank you for following our live updates for Day 7 of the campaigning period in the lead-up to the Nov 19 polls. Follow us again tomorrow for Day 8.

Kajendran rubbishes Mat Sabu’s RM50b flood plan

9.10pm: BN’s candidate for Kota Raja D Kajendran rubbishes Mohamad Sabu RM50 billion flood relief plans for the Klang Valley revealed in the latter’s manifesto, and calls it nonsense.

Questioning if the Kota Raja incumbent candidate is aware of how large a sum RM50 billion is, Kajendran describes the proposed budget as illogical.

“Do you know how much is RM50 billion? This is nonsense,” Kajendran is quoted as saying in a press conference at the BN operations room in Kota Raja, by Astro Awani.

Kajendran declares that in the 15 years Harapan was governing Selangor, no progress had been made in the state.

Musa vouches for Rahman as Sabah DPM candidate

7.38pm: Former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman has dubbed Abdul Rahman Dahlan, the BN candidate for the Kota Belud parliamentary seat, a worthy candidate to be appointed a deputy prime minister from the state.

According to Musa, Abdul Rahman has all the criteria to fit the second-highest position in the federal cabinet.

Musa, while campaigning for Abdul Rahman in Kota Belud, cites the latter's experience as a two-term MP of the constituency, as well as a former federal minister (urban wellbeing, housing, and local government), reported Berita Harian.

According to him further, Abdul Rahman has done "a lot" to Kota Belud, in his previous capacity, and now that he's no longer the MP, the latter's "heart" is still with the constituency.

‘Not daydreaming,’ Muhyiddin says on PM candidacy

7pm: Pagoh, Johor – Muhyiddin Yassin stands by Perikatan Nasional’s decision to name him their prime minister candidate - which, if PN wins, would be his second term - following claims from BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that PN is “daydreaming”.

In response, Muhyiddin says the decision made by PN’s top leadership is a realistic choice that has a basis.

“If the future prime minister is part of the court cluster or is an ex-convict, would the people want to choose (for them)? Or would they think ‘abah’ (Muhyiddin) is good?” he questions, in reference to Zahid and Pakatan Harapan’s Anwar Ibrahim.

“This isn’t about daydreaming, it is right in the middle of the general election. The rakyat wants to know,” he says.

Muhyiddin adds that voters’ acceptance towards PN has further increased following the launch of their manifesto.

Najib's daughter campaigns for Jamal tonight

6.45pm: Najib Abdul Razak's daughter Nooryana Najwa is making her debut appearance on the campaign trail tonight, by campaigning for BN's Sungai Besar candidate Jamal Md Yunos.

The event scheduled for 9pm in Sabak Bernam is promoted as a bicara santai'(casual chat).

KJ unveils his manifesto for Sungai Buloh

6.30pm: BN candidate for Sungai Buloh Khairy Jamaluddin unveils an election manifesto which focuses on health and digital development in the parliamentary constituency.

In the special manifesto for Sungai Buloh, Khairy pledges to expand 5G network service across the whole constituency if he wins the election.

He also promises to upgrade Sungai Buloh Hospital to make it a National Institute for Infectious Disease Control.

"I will establish two parliamentary service centres to serve the community better; one in the Paya Jaras state seat and one in the Kota Damansara state seat. The centres will be equipped with an online system to track all complaints, suggestions and feedback received," according to his manifesto.

Apart from that, Khairy will also implement a mitigation strategy to tackle flood issues through improvements in plumbing and drainage systems.

Khairy also looks forward to working with the Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor state government on land premium issues.

"(I will) create synergy between the parliamentarian, local authorities and the state government to solve the chronic traffic issues," says Khairy in the manifesto.

He also pledges to improve and simplify the application process for business licenses.

Expedited payment of BKM ‘unjust influence’ - Bersih

6.30pm: The expedited payment for phase four of the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) is a form of "unjust influence" on voters and goes against the convention of caretaker governments as practised in other countries, says Bersih.

"The payment can be seen as using government resources to campaign for the caretaker prime minister, or the political party/coalition he represents.

"Should there arise a need to announce new allocations, or expedite existing payments, the caretaker prime minister can discuss with the opposition to justify (the payment). The process is more transparent and inclusive, and truly prioritizes the rakyat," the electoral group's steering committee says in a statement today.

This is in response to the announcement by caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday that the payment for the fourth phase of the BKM programme will be credited to recipients' accounts from Nov 15 to 18 - the eve of the 15th general election.

Bersih further urges the caretaker governments, be it at the federal or state levels, to not misuse government resources for their own benefit, as it goes against the principles and ethics of a free, clean, and fair election.

Cleopatra promises free classes for urban poor kids

5pm: Independent candidate for Batu, Nur Fathiah Syazwana Shaharuddin, is promising to provide free classes for students in need in the constituency.

In a campaign video, the 28-year-old says the Covid-19 lockdown has created a new class of urban poor and many of their children have fallen behind in their studies.

The social media personality better known as Cleopatra says she wants to be elected so she can speak on these issues in Parliament.

Politicking until 100 is not healthy - Najib’s son

4.40pm: Langkawi voters have been urged to choose a candidate that can serve them well instead of picking someone who is almost 100 years old.

According to Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, the son of imprisoned former premier Najib Abdul Razak, an elected lawmaker should be someone who's willing to serve their constituents as and when needed.

"There must be a limit in politics. Politicking until one is 100 is not healthy. Although we love (Langkawi incumbent) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, let him rest.

"He has contributed a lot to the country, but we must see what is effective for the people, and Langkawi in general," Utusan Malaysia quotes him saying. Mahathir is 97.

Thus, he urged the people to "vote wisely" to ensure the country will not see three prime ministers in less than one parliamentary term.

Muda's Tanjung Piai candidate declares assets

4pm: Muda co-founder and Tanjung Piai candidate Lim Wei Jiet declares net assets of RM472,410.21, including cash savings of about RM17,000 in Malaysia and RM820 in Singapore.

The lawyer also declares ownership of the law firm Messrs Lim Wei Jiet, which he founded in June with a paid-up capital of RM20,000.

He owns a Honda City car and partly owns a condominium in Petaling Jaya worth RM319,500, both of which he bought on loan. The 33-year-old also owns shares in publicly listed firms worth about RM190,000.

"I hope the BN and Perikatan Nasional candidates in Tanjung Piai also declare their assets now, and not just when they are appointed cabinet ministers," he says.

Lim is facing incumbent Wee Jeck Seng of BN and PN's Najwah Halimah Ab Halim.

Hulu Kinta BN candidate lodges report over threats

3.55pm: Mazlan Abd Rahman, the BN candidate for the Hulu Kinta parliamentary seat, has lodged a police report over the double threats he received from an anonymous person.

According to Mazlan, who is also Tambun Umno division vice chief, he received text messages from the same number in the last two days, requesting RM300,000, failing which a poison pen letter on Mazlan's personal life would be circulated.

This is the first threat Mazlan has received since the campaigning period started.

Saying he has no money to pay, neither has he anything to hide, Mazlan will leave it to the police to capture the perpetrator.

PAS leader sorry for ‘BN, Harapan supporters go to hell’ remark

3.30pm: A Kedah PAS leader apologises for issuing a warning that those who vote for BN and Pakatan Harapan in GE15 will "go to hell".

Sik PAS chief Shahiful Nasir issues the apology via a video today, after an earlier video of him uttering the remark during a ceramah went viral on social media yesterday.

According to him, his remark, which courted backlash, referred to those who commit good and bad deeds in general and was not directed towards BN or Harapan supporters.

"I would like to apologise to everyone for the mistake in the speech I made," Shahiful says, further urging netizens to stop circulating the video of his speech to ensure a harmonious election that is free from racial and religious extremism.

Camaraderie in Sungai Besar

3.30pm: Opposing candidates in Sungai Besar show camaraderie when they bumped into each other while on the campaign trail at the Parit 13 Sungai Panjang market.

"We may be from different parties but it won't affect our silaturrahim (friendship)," Pakatan Harapan's Sungai Besar candidate Saipolyazan Mat Yusop says while sharing the photos of the incidents on Facebook.

In the photos, he is seen posing for the camera with BN candidate Jamal Md Yunos, and sharing a light moment with Perikatan Nasional's candidate Muslimin Yahya.

Rayer claims being stopped from giving speech at temple

3.15pm: Pakatan Harapan’s Jelutong candidate RSN Rayer says he was stopped from giving a speech during his visit to a Chinese temple yesterday.

In a press conference today, he says an Election Commission officer didn’t allow him to because he has no permit even though he explained that he was invited to the temple’s banquet as their legal adviser.

Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Lim Siew Khim, who also attended the event, meanwhile, has been told by the police that she should not wear a T-shirt with a party element. She was also monitored, and not allowed to speak about politics.

DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng says he is going to meet the Penang Election Commission director soon with Rayer regarding the matter.

Johari takes swipe at Khalid over Kg Baru land issue

3pm: BN’s candidate for Titiwangsa Johari Abdul Ghani takes a swipe at his opponent Khalid Samad on Pakatan Harapan's offer of RM1,000 per square foot to acquire 93ha of land in Kampung Baru.

The former finance minister II says Khalid does not understand the difference between “obtaining the approval from cabinet” and “informing cabinet” in relation to the offer.

"Informing does not mean that it has been approved. The RM10 billion price tag of land acquisition for Kampung Baru is simply a huge amount," he is quoted as saying by FMT.

"It is irresponsible for a minister to make an offer of this magnitude to the people, without getting the approval of the cabinet. Is this the quality of the then Harapan administration and Khalid as a minister?"

Both Johari and Khalid have been locking horns, particularly over the Kampung Baru redevelopment issue, since the GE15 election campaign started.

Yesterday, Khalid said the RM1,000 per square foot land acquisition offer was discussed in the cabinet. He also pledged that the offer still stands if Harapan reclaims Putrajaya.

This came after Johari challenged him on Wednesday to answer if the cabinet approved Khalid's offer made in 2019.

Free curry mee if Harapan wins

2pm: A Penang white curry mee stall owner has pledged free bowls of curry mee if Pakatan Harapan wins the general election.

The owner of Han Kari in Lip Sin Garden, Bayan Lepas also gave his stall the nickname “Ini Kari Han-Lah”, a play on Pakatan Harapan's GE14 battle cry - Ini Kali Lah (this time lah).

His promise was announced by Pakatan Harapan's Bayan Baru candidate Sim Tze Tzin on his Facebook page today.

Postal voters start receiving ballots

1.46pm: Postal voters report that their ballot papers have already arrived or are en route via courier services.

Global Bersih says ballot papers have arrived in Singapore, Australia, Germany, Thailand, Hong Kong and Qatar.

Those in The Netherlands say courier service DHL was expected to deliver theirs yesterday, while ballot papers are due to arrive in the United Kingdom, Norway and Brunei today.

Postal voters in the US and Canada are expected to receive their ballot papers via FedEx next Monday and those in New Zealand will receive them via DHL on the same day.

"This list is a guide for you to plan how to get your ballots back to your returning officers in Malaysia by 5pm, Nov 19," Global Bersih says in an announcement.

In GE14, delays in receiving their ballots meant many postal voters were forced to give their marked ballots to airline pilots or random passengers flying to Malaysia to pass them to runners who rushed them to the polling centres.

Rising support from Indian community for BN - Tok Mat

1.10pm: BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan says there is increasing support for BN from the Indian community, which the coalition believes will continue until polling day, Bernama reports.

He describes it as a positive development from several series of by-elections and the state polls in Malacca and Johor.

"In Malacca, for example, it went up by 28 percent. In Johor, the pattern continues.

"The response (from the Indian community) is very encouraging. In GE14, they would avoid the BN logo. This time, they approach BN. This will be translated through votes in this GE," Bernama quotes BN’s Rembau candidate as saying at Taman Permata, Seremban.

Warisan’s Mazliwati not afraid to face cousin Bung

1pm: Warisan’s candidate for Kinabatangan Mazliwati Abd Malek is highly spirited to face Sabah's 'political giant', state BN chairperson Bung Moktar Radin, in a straight fight for the BN stronghold.

The 49-year-old says she is ready for the one-on-one fight with the experienced Bung, who is also her cousin.

“I am facing an experienced person, a 'political giant' who has already served five terms (as a Kinabatangan MP). I'm a new face. However, I have full confidence in the wisdom of the people (to choose),” she tells Bernama.

BN’s PD candidate feels ‘no pressure’

12.30pm: BN candidate for Port Dickson P Kamalanathan says although he is a “parachute” candidate, he is accepted by the multi-racial community in the constituency.

"There is no pressure at all, I feel very grateful because I have met many of the residents and their response was positive,” Bernama quotes him as saying when met after a walkabout in Lukut, Port Dickson.

Kamalanathan says he has explained to the residents during his campaign about BN's plans to make Port Dickson a tourism hub.

There are several other issues that need to be addressed immediately in Port Dickson, such flood problems and roads, he adds.

First public debate between GE candidates on Sunday

12pm: Malaysians will witness its first public debate between two GE15 candidates this Sunday involving BN's Johari Abdul Ghani and Pakatan Harapan's Khalid Abdul Samad.

It will take place at 8pm at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Lumpur. The tentative title for the debate is "Federal Territories Debate".

Johari was the Titiwangsa MP from 2013 to 2018. Despite failing to retain his seat in 2018, he has maintained an active presence and is thus a hot favourite to win it back.

Khalid on the other hand is the incumbent Shah Alam MP who has been relocated to Titiwangsa.

During GE14, Harapan won the Titiwangsa seat with 47.3 percent of the votes.

Batu independent candidate invites ‘whacking’

11.40am: Batu independent candidate Too Cheng Huat, who is contesting as Too Gao Lan, has implemented a unique way of inviting voters to his live broadcast at 8pm on Facebook.

"Want to whack me? Come tonight," he said via a poster uploaded to his social media.

Too Gao Lan in Hokkien sounds similar to a crude way of saying "very pissed off".

The Batu native previously told the media that he is contesting in GE15 as he is unhappy with the stagnated development in the constituency.

He says his team has developed a mobile application meant for local voters to share their voices.

Trade unions lay down demands for GE15 candidates

11.30am: Trade unions are demanding political parties contesting in the polls to vow they will seek to recall the 2022 amendments made to the Trade Unions Act, which they say are "exploitative to workers", allow the multiplicity of unions and excessive powers to the Labour Department director-general if their candidates are elected to the Dewan Rakyat.

At a press conference, the Coalition Against Multiplicity of Unions (Camu) which represents 39 trade unions and 100 affiliated unions, urges candidates to vow to either bring a bill to retract the amendments recently passed in Dewan Rakyat or seek the Dewan Negara to send back the amendment bill to the Lower House for review.

'Multiplicity of unions' refers to the existence of multiple trade unions representing workers in a company, thereby diluting the collective bargaining power of trade unions. This includes in-house unions and external trade unions.

They also demand the following:

- Ensure that the Industrial Court and Industrial Relations Department direct employers to implement the Human Resources Ministry's minimum wage formula.
- Criminalise employers who dismiss trade union leaders for participating in union activities.
- Encourage workers to join existing trade unions and for employers to recognise existing trade unions as the sole union for their workers.
- Removal of the requirement of secret ballots of workers to show consent to join a union.
- Regular meetings by the Employee Provident Fund and the Social Security Organisation with contributors, to show activities and financial reports.

BN's Kepong candidate 'concedes'

10.30am - A video has emerged depicting BN's candidate for Kepong Yap Zheng Hoe agreeing with a supporter that he stood no chance.

The clip depicts Yap nodding, bowing and palming his fist while a supporter spoke to a camera proclaiming that he will surely lose the Kepong contest.

The unnamed elderly supporter then urged voters to vote for Yap to ensure he doesn't lose too badly.

BN has not won in Kepong since 1978. Yap is the Kepong MCA Youth deputy chief.

BN man uses ‘cannon’ as reminder of Harapan’s failure

9.45am: Bagan, Penang - BN’s candidate for Bagan Tan Chuan Hong placed a makeshift model of a cannon in front of Pakatan Harapan incumbent Lim Guan Eng‘s operation centre, to mock the latter with the “booster” yesterday.

In a Facebook post, Tan said Harapan has been in power in Penang since 2008, but failed to fulfil its promises to voters, namely the demolition of the Sungai Nyiur toll, rebuilding the Mak Mandin Green House and completing several projects including the undersea tunnel, LRT and sky taxi.

He hopes that the cannon model will remind people not to be cheated by Harapan once again.

100-strong task force to tackle fake news

7am: Melor, Kelantan - The government has set up a task force comprising over 100 police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission personnel to tackle misinformation on social media, says Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa.

According to Bernama, the minister says he has approved an application from the police for the necessary devices for the task, which will monitor "fake news" and act swiftly to remove it without having to wait for a report.

“To wait for reports and to investigate is not really suitable at a time when an election is being held because candidates can be victims (of fake news), and it would be very damaging to them,” he reportedly says after officiating the eSports Keluarga Malaysia @Ketereh programme yesterday.

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