DAY 10 | PN supporters attend ceramah despite downpour

GE15 LIVE DAY 10 | The 15th general election campaign enters the tenth day, leaving a handful of days more for candidates to convince voters to choose them before heading to the polling booth.

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

PN supporters attend ceramah despite downpour

9.30pm: Gombak Selangor - About 500-strong crowd, mostly Perikatan Nasional supporters and party workers, show up at a PN ceramah in Padang AU2 in Keramat despite a downpour.

While waiting for PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin to arrive, Putrajaya candidate Mohd Radzi Md Jidin tells voters to ensure Muhyiddin’s return to Putrajaya as the next prime minister.

"We are not here for fun," he tells the audience clad in raincoats and holding an umbrella.

"We rise, we want to see the comeback of Muhyiddin, who led the country when it was hit by health, economic and political crises.

“He was ousted by villains, let us bring him back to Putrajaya," Radzi says.

NGOs to host debates for Kuala Selangor candidates

9pm: Several NGOs are hosting a debate tomorrow for all four candidates vying for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat, including former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad (Pakatan Harapan) and current Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz (BN).

Other participants are Mohd Noor Shahar (Perikatan Nasional) and Shaid Rosli (Pejuang).

The event is organised by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Harmoni Kuala Selangor Welfare Association, and the Bestari Jaya Aik Kun Club.

Organisers say the event will be held at One Plaza in Kuala Selangor and live-streamed through KLSCAH’s Facebook page.

Ismail Sabri to do special broadcast tomorrow

8pm: Petaling Jaya, Selangor - Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will appear in a special television programme titled 'Bual Bicara Khas Bersama Perdana Menteri - Kestabilan & Kemakmuran' (Special discussion with the prime minister - Stability & Prosperity).

The programme will be aired on TV3, RTM, BernamaTV and Astro Awani at 9.35pm tomorrow.

Ismail Sabri has just declared Nov 18 and 19 as public holidays to enable the voting process to go smoothly this Saturday.

Muar candidates debate cancelled, only Syed Saddiq responded

7.15pm: Muar, Johor - A policy debate programme among Muar’s parliamentary candidates tonight has been cancelled at the last minute.

In a statement by Jelajah Demokrasi director Ashraff Fahmy, he says that only Muar incumbent MP and Muda president Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman accepted the invite. 

Perikatan Nasional’s candidate Abdullah Husin responded that he would not be attending whereas BN’s candidate Helmy Abdul Latif chose to not respond, he says. 

“Therefore we regret to inform that the policy debate programme that was meant to be held tonight has been cancelled. 

“After reviewing the safety aspects and public peace, upon the advice of the authorities, this is the best decision for everyone’s welfare,” he says. 

Syed Saddiq will now hold a press conference at 9pm regarding his offers for the Muar constituency.

Fisherfolk to vote for those opposing Penang South Reclamation

6.50pm: Penang - Some 6,000 fisherfolk in Penang vow to vote for candidates who oppose the Penang South Reclamation project, which they say destroys their livelihood.

“Our vote is for leaders who have been protecting our wellbeing and not those who destroy our lives.

“And we know who to vote out this time around,” Penang Fisherfolk’s Association chairperson Ibrahim Che Rose is quoted by the New Straits Times as saying.

He says the area which will be reclaimed recorded 300 tonnes of marine catch valued at RM5 million.

“So, why must they destroy this rich marine habitat here, filled with kembong (mackerel), senangin (threadfin), prawns and crabs?" he asks.

The reclamation project by the DAP-led Penang government is meant to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) worth about RM45 billion

The return of Najib’s ‘Rakyat didahulukan’

6.18pm: Klang, Selangor - Outdated BN banners, believed to be from the 2018 election, are spotted in the Sentosa area of Klang.

The banners show the 1Malaysia logo and the slogan ‘Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamanakan’, which was used by the Najib Abdul Razak administration.

Similar banners have also been sighted in several locations in Perak, namely Selama, Batu Kurau, and Gerik.

Ismail Sabri tells BN machinery to avoid provocation, slander

6.15pm: Sepang, Selangor - Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob urged the BN election machinery to focus on maintaining peace and harmony as well as avoid any provocation or slander during the 15th general election (GE15) campaign.

He said the BN election machinery must assure the people that the coalition will safeguard the welfare of all, if the coalition was elected into power.

“We must carry out campaigns in harmony and not use provocation or slander in campaigns. When we are selling our ‘product’, do not belittle other people’s products.

“If we need to sell our ‘product’ we must sell. If the people accept us (BN) they will definitely support us,” he told reporters after handing out a mock cheque to the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Bunga Raya Complex today.

- Bernama

Police report lodged against BN candidate over cash distribution

4.30pm: Mersing, Johor - A Mersing Perikatan Nasional (PN) supporter lodges a police report against BN candidate Abdul Latif Bandi, alleging a breach of election laws through cash distributions purportedly under the guise of his NGO.

The police report is based on a Facebook post yesterday by Badrulhisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, exposing the alleged cash distribution by unregistered NGOs.

“Latif must explain how an NGO under his purview can distribute cash during the campaign period, and what is the source of the money?” claims Badrulhisham. 

In August, the Johor Bahru Sessions Court acquitted and discharged Latif of charges of corruption and money laundering amounting to RM35.7 million, five years ago.

An aide to incumbent Mersing MP Abdul Latiff Ahmad, who won his seat on a BN ticket but later defected to Bersatu, earlier shared a copy of the police report and Badrulhisham’s Facebook post.

This time PN is fielding Islahuddin Abas to replace Latiff who is not defending his seat.

EC: Data leak old issue, being dredged up

4.15pm: The Election Commission (EC) says the leak of voter information including 800,000 pictures of voters and their MyKad is an old issue that is being revived again.

The commission is since working with the National Cyber Security Agency to investigate this matter.

“EC has taken appropriate steps to ensure no intrusion can happen to the EC system.

“EC is always ensuring the safety of the voters’ data through constant monitoring using effective security infrastructure,” says EC in a statement.

Malaysiakini has previously reported that the data leak occurred in April but the matter is now gaining attention again.

GPS confident of winning all federal seats in S’wak

3pm: Kuching, Sarawak - Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is capable of winning “almost all” 31 parliamentary seats it will contest in Sarawak in the 15th general election (GE15), says Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He says this confidence is based on the huge victory the coalition secured in the 12th Sarawak state election last year, which saw it sweep 76 out of the 82 seats contested.

“We (GPS) are very confident but not to the extent of being arrogant,” he tells reporters after launching the Sarawak Malaysia National Archives Building today.

“An impressive victory (in the state election) and soon we will contest in GE15. I believe that based on what we have gone through, we can win almost 31 seats, we know where we stand at this moment,” he says.

GPS comprises PBB, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

The Election Commission has set the polling on Nov 19 and early voting for tomorrow (Nov 15).

- Bernama

Zahid: Don’t buy anti-BN propaganda disguised as surveys

2.40pm: BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warns supporters not to be duped by what he claims to be anti-BN propaganda disguised as surveys.

He says such surveys are unreliable due to small sample sizes, or that they were done through phone calls, allowing respondents to give false answers.

“For example, PN is playing psychological warfare on social media as though they are capable of winning many seats,

“This is despite it being impossible for PN to even win 25 seats nationwide, because their number of members is so small, and a lack of confidence in PN’s struggle has caused many to leave Bersatu en masse,” he says in a Facebook post.

It is not clear which survey Zahid is referring to.

A Merdeka Centre survey released on Nov 4 indicated that BN was trailing Pakatan Harapan in voter preference, while PN was in third place.

'Hancing' stickers mar Fahmi's billboard in Lembah Pantai

1.30pm: Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur - Pakatan Harapan’s Lembah Pantai candidate Fahmi Fadzil is upset that his billboard has been marred with stickers with the words “kencing” and “hancing”.

The Bahasa Malaysia words refer to urine and colloquially refer to the act of lying. Harapan detractors often refer to the coalition as “Pakatan Hancing”, a play on the acronym PH.

“If you don’t agree with me, it’s okay, but don’t damage my campaign materials. I also paid the deposit to put up my campaign materials,” the incumbent Lembah Pantai MP says in a TikTok video.

In the background, individuals are seen trying to remove the stickers from the billboard.

Meanwhile, police say multiple police reports have been lodged over vandalism and damage to campaign material.

This includes black paint splashed onto BN’s Yan candidate Jamil Khir Baharom’s billboard and crumpled BN posters in Pendang, according to police reports lodged.

In Kerian, Perak, PN candidate Razman Zakaria’s face was cut out of his campaign banner, according to a police report.

Zahid confirms offering Anifah cabinet spot

1pm - BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed he did offer the foreign minister position to Sabah politician Anifah Aman if BN wins the 15th general election (GE15), The Edge reports.

“He (Anifah) was foreign minister for nine years (and) performed very well during his tenure. We were in the cabinet together.

“And because of that, he deserves to be appointed as a senator and later to be appointed as foreign minister. I think he deserves it… He really has value,” The Edge reports him as saying at an event in Bagan Datuk, Perak last night.

Anifah, now Parti Cinta Malaysia president, resigned from Umno in 2018 citing the failure of BN parties to deliver on promises relating to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Campaigning for Pakatan Harapan on Saturday, Anifah said Zahid offered him the post in exchange for not contesting in GE15.

Getai singers entertain KL voters at BN events

11.40am: Kuala Lumpur - Getai singers have been spotted at BN campaign events in Kuala Lumpur.

Performers serenaded ceramah-goers at BN’s Kepong candidate Ernest Yap Zheng Hoe’s event.

Earlier, a video clip of a scantily-clad getai singer performing during BN’s Setiawangsa candidate Izudin Ishak’s campaign event was circulated by Setiawangsa PKR Youth on Twitter.

“This is a party that is defending Malay rights,” it said sardonically.

The post on Saturday was viewed at least 69,500 times and liked by more than 1,000 Twitter users.

Getai performances are a mainstay during the hungry ghost festival, deity birthday celebrations, and community festivals in Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Indonesia.

The word getai literally means 'song stage', with performers typically donning dramatic attire, and putting on upbeat performances.

While some performers wear revealing outfits and engage in crude humour, this is not always the case.

Tian Chua reminds people of their power with ‘Seat of the People’

11.30am: Batu, Kuala Lumpur - Batu independent candidate Tian Chua unveils an art installation in the form of a giant chair in Sentul today.

The sculpture, dubbed “Kerusi Rakyat” or “Seat of the People” is part of his campaign and will be installed in eight locations across the constituency.

The installation, which has the same silhouette as the Parliament Building, was built by artists, including activist Hishammuddin Rais, to show their support for Chua as a Reformasi icon.

“While we are all fighting for seats, actually the seats belong to the people,” he says.

Hishammuddin, who shared a cell with Chua while detained under the Internal Security Act in the Reformasi era, says he supports Chua because he is a true reformist.

“He is an icon of Reformasi. The image of Tian Chua sitting in front of the Federal Reserve Unit truck in 1998 before he was arrested, is iconic, just as the image of Tunku Abdul Rahman declaring ‘Merdeka’ in 1957,” he says.

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