DAY 11 | Anwar enchants Batu crowd of 3,000

GE15 LIVE DAY 11 | It’s the 11th day of the 15th general election campaign and there are only a few days left before voters go out to cast their ballots.

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

11.59pm: Thank you for following our live updates for Day 11 of the campaigning period in the lead-up to the Nov 19 polls. Follow us again tomorrow for Day 12.

Anwar enchants Batu crowd, about 3,000 people cheer him

11:30pm: Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim says Indian Malaysians and Orang Ali communities are among the poorest in Malaysia.

He is speaking to a sea of about 3,000 residents from Taman Dato Senu and its surrounding area in Kuala Lumpur.

“Malays make up the most number of poor in the country but Indian Malaysians and Orang Asli are the poorest,” he says to about 3,000 residents from Taman Dato Senu and its surrounding areas.

Most of the attendees were Malays and Indians.

Anwar then walks off the stage to get closer to the crowd several times and urges them to vote for Harapan’s Batu candidate, P Prabakaran to change their fate.

The crowd cheer when says, “this is the biggest crowd. Thank you very much.”

“I can see Batu is different (Saya tengok Batu, lain macam lah).”

‘Politicians lack the will to resolve floods’

11.15pm: Pejuang candidate for Ampang, Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi says the politicians lack the political will in resolving flood issues in the country.

At a ceramah held at Pangsapuri Seri Nilam, she tells 400-strong attendees that it was because they need the natural disaster as an opportunity to show they care for the people.

"Flooding is an annual event in Malaysia. As we enter November and December, we must be ready because floods will hit us for sure .

"Why do we still face floods every year when the country had set aside an allocation for mitigation projects?

"I studied about the matter when I was in Japan. The answer is that politicians need floods. Why so? To show that they can bring the food basket (to flood victims)." says the 33-year-old Pejuang Puteri chief.

The ceramah is held at Pangsapuri Seri Nilam, which consists of over 1,900 units with over 5,000 residents.

Pejuang chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad is there campaigning for her and signs a copy of her manifesto for Ampang.

In her manifesto, the Ampang native pledges to improve the country’s natural disaster management.

She also wants a more organised and effective improvement in terms of the environment in the Ampang area.

Thousands swarm Batu event to hear Anwar

11.09pm: The crowd in Kampung Dato Senu in the Batu constituency swells to about 3,000 people by the time headline speaker Anwar Ibrahim takes the microphone.

But this is not his last stop tonight. In Danau Kota flats in the Wangsa Maju constituency, about 7,000 supporters are waiting patiently for Anwar to arrive there.

The number of people who have come out to hear the Harapan events appear to overshadow the already sizeable crowd at the Perikatan Nasional ceramah in the Gombak constituency last night.

Anwar is due to speak at the same location in the Gombak constituency tomorrow.

EC: Nearly 95% of early voters cast their ballots

11.00pm: The Election Commission (EC) says the early voting today saw a turnout of 212,961 voters, or 94.72 percent of those who are eligible.

EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak says the number comprises military personnel and their spouses, as well as police personnel and their spouses, according to a Bernama report.

Zuraida resorts to flash mob to gain support

9.30pm: A video of PBM's Ampang candidate Zuraida Kamaruddin and her supporters holding a flash mob in the constituency has gone viral on social media.

The flash mob involved the incumbent MP and her supporters holding posters on the side of Jalan Kolam Ayer Lama and waving to passing motorists.

Zuraida is seen standing on a road divider and pointing to her poster while smiling.

The video received more than 8,000 likes on TikTok, but many commenters also made fun of the three-term MP and likened her to a roadside cut fruit seller.

Clips of the video are also circulating on other social media platforms.

Residents throng Taman Dato Senu for Anwar’s speech

9pm: More than a thousand people throng at the field in Taman Dato Senu in Kuala Lumpur, awaiting the arrival of Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim.

Among them at the front row are a small team of children who frequently play football with “their friend”, Harapan Batu candidate P Prabakaran on the very field.

Another in the crowd is a resident from here, Jason Chow, who is pleasantly surprised to find out that the politician he follows around the country, watching his speeches, is today in his neighbourhood.

“I’m here to watch Anwar,” said Chow who came with his camera to record the event.

Others who are expected to attend are Harapan’s Titiwangsa candidate Khalid Abdul Samad.

Be civil during campaigning, Bagan Datuk aspirant says

8.20pm: Harapan’s Bagan Datuk candidate Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin urges all party supporters to remain calm and mature during the campaigning period.

This was following a commotion that broke out when Shamsul and actor Afdlin Shauki were having a chit-chat programme at Hutan Melintang last Sunday.

A video showed a man cladded in BN’s blue T-shirt and other supporters shouting and questioning the existence of Harapan in the area.

The man also had a machete tied to his waist.

“The act of disrupting and sabotaging the campaign of other candidates has violated the democratic process.

“We may have different ideologies but given that such uncivilised actions happened during my programme with Afdlin, it showed that certain candidates feel threatened with the rise of people’s power,” said Shamsul in a statement today.

Don’t repeat 2018 mistake, Gombak’s BN aspirant says

8pm: BN’s candidate for Gombak parliamentary seat, Megat Zulkarnain Omardin goes around to meet voters at the area which is at the edge of Gombak's border with Titiwangsa constituency.

He starts his programme at Bukit Baru Apartment in Keramat Hujung with a small ceramah session with some 40 Malay voters, where he reminds them not to repeat the mistake in 2018 by voting DAP into power.

In his speech, Megat says that Umno will be the last bastion for the Malays and Islam in the country, and that giving vote to PKR is giving a vote to DAP.

"Believe me, DAP's vengeance against Muslims will never end.

"If you see, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng are quiet now, but they are using the likes of (Harapan candidate) Amirudin (Shari) and Anwar Ibrahim to be at the forefront," Megat tells the audience.

Anwar needles ‘highly paid’ cabinet while people suffer

7.30pm: Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur - In Bazaria Pantai in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar Ibrahim arrives with much fanfare.

As he makes his way to the food stalls, he is stopped by supporters wanting to shake his hand while one man hollers 'Future prime minister!'

He stands on a plastic chair to give a short speech, among others condemning the Ismail Sabri Yaakob government for having a large, highly paid cabinet when the rakyat are struggling to make ends meet.

“Seventy ministers making RM70,000 each!” he exclaims, his voice slightly hoarse from campaigning nationwide.

“The Malays say ‘long live Malays’, the Muslims chant ‘God is great’, but the rakyat are (left) like that,” he says, as the crowd jostles around him and cheers him on.

The speech is also streamed live on Pakatan Harapan’s Lembah Pantai candidate Fahmi Fadzil’s social media, where Anwar is condemned by many commenters for giving a ceramah during Maghrib prayer time.

However, Anwar says he is keeping his speech brief to make way for prayers.

Penang police arrest 3 for GE15-related offences

6.35pm: Three people have been arrested and 30 reports have been lodged in Penang for various offences committed during the 15th general election (GE15) campaign period, Bernama reports.

State police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain says so far, 12 investigation papers and one police inquiry paper have been opened.

"The three individuals have been charged with extortion under Section 385 of the Penal Code and voluntary causing hurt under Sections 323 and 324 of the Penal Code.

"During the 10 days of the GE15 campaign period, the police have issued 986 permits and 360 events were held.

“Perhaps as the polling day draws nearer, we will receive more applications for a permit,” he says after casting his ballot at the Penang police headquarters today.

Public holiday in Sarawak on Nov 18, 19

5.50pm: Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg declares Nov 18 and Nov 19 as public holidays to enable voters in the state to exercise their right to cast their ballots on Nov 19, reports Bernama.

He says this is in line with the announcement made by caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in declaring Nov 18 and 19 as public holidays, and that he has also discussed it with Ismail Sabri during the launch of the Selangau section of the Pan Borneo Highway project yesterday.

Early voting centres closed at 5pm

5.40pm: The early voting centres have been closed at 5pm today, Bernama reports.

The process involves a total of 224,828 registered early voters comprising 117,473 military personnel and their spouses as well as 107,355 police personnel and their spouses.

Early voting for the Bugaya state by-election which was postponed following the proclamation of emergency to curb the spread of Covid-19 is also held today.

A total of 578 early voting centres involving 970 channels, which were opened at state police headquarters, district police headquarters and army camps since 8am are being closed in stages between noon and 5pm.

Among senior security personnel who fulfilled their civic responsibility today are Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Defence Force chief Affendi Buang, Army chief Zamrose Mohd Zain and Sabah police chief Idris Abdullah.

The early voting ballot papers will be kept at police station lockups and counting of these ballot papers will be conducted on polling day starting at 4pm.

'A vote for Wee is a vote for Hadi' - says DAP rival

5.05pm: Ayer Hitam, Johor - DAP's Ayer Hitam candidate Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali reminds voters of the possibility that while Perikatan Nasional is supposedly campaigning to form a clean and stable government, they would form a government with BN which is full of corruption.

"A PN vote can be the same as the BN vote. The vote that can elevate Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to PM.

"Malaysians should not be scammed," he says in a statement following PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan's professed willingness to work with BN to form a government after polling.

He says this eventually means that people who vote for MCA would get PAS.

“You vote for Wee Ka Siong, you get Abdul Hadi Awang!" warns Sheikh Omar, who is attempting to unseat Wee, who has served as Ayer Hitam MP since 2004.

‘How did Kota Kinabalu incumbent spend RM4.3m?’

5pm: Warisan's Kota Kinabalu candidate Amanda Yeo demands that DAP’s incumbent MP Chan Foong Hin show how he spent RM4.3 million from the federal funds allocated to him as part of the memorandum of understanding with the Ismail Sabri Yaakob government.

She accuses DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke of lying when he said the accounts have been tabled.

"Who received the RM4.3 million? Which contractor was appointed to do Chan’s work? How much were the contractors paid? Nobody knows!" she says while campaigning in Marketplace 88 in Kepayan.

Think tank: Amirudin may win Gombak

5pm: Shah Alam, Selangor - State-backed think tank Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) predicts Pakatan Harapan’s Gombak candidate Amirudin Shari may win the seat with a majority of over 56,000, according to their simulation.

Their simulation is based on data they collected between Nov 10 to 12 from a survey in Gombak, which saw 52.5 percent of respondents say they will vote for Harapan on polling day, followed by Perikatan Nasional with 21.9 percent, then BN with 13.8 percent, while the remaining 11.6 percent are fence-sitters.

Gombak is considered a hot seat this election as it will see Amirudin, who is also the Selangor menteri besar, challenge his former mentor and incumbent MP Azmin Ali there.

Police record actor’s statement over remark

4.32pm: Police have recorded the statement of actor Zul Huzaimy who is under investigation for allegedly saying that he wanted to "slaughter kafir harbi" (non-Muslims who are hostile to Islam).

His statement was recorded yesterday, the police say in a statement today.

"Police are still waiting for a report from the Malaysian Commission of Multimedia and Communications to complete the investigation paper, which will be referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers in the near future," the Royal Malaysia Police secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin says.

EC issues 365,686 postal ballot papers

4.30pm: The Election Commission (EC) has issued 365,686 postal ballot papers to eligible postal voters and the Bugaya state by-election in Sabah, reports Bernama.

EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak says the issuance of the postal ballot papers was carried out by EC workers at all the 222 parliamentary constituencies and 117 state constituencies since Nov 7 as provided under the Elections (Postal Voting) Regulations 2003.

The postal ballot papers comprise 299,097 Borang 1A to election workers, EC members and officers, police and army personnel, as well as media practitioners.

The remaining 48,109 are Form 1B for Malaysians residing abroad and another 15,739 Borang 1C to agencies and organisations, while 2,741 are for absentee voters.

"The process of issuing the postal ballot papers is carried out in the presence of postal ballot agents from all the contesting candidates,” he says in a statement today.

Ikmalrudin reminds all postal voters to mark the ballot paper, fill in the Identity Declaration form (Form 2) completely and correctly and immediately return them to the returning officer concerned before 5pm this Saturday (Nov 19) which is the polling day.

Voters are also reminded to always keep their votes confidential by not taking photos of the postal ballot papers and spreading them on social media sites.

Nurul Izzah protests BN’s polling agent attire

2.55pm: Permatang Pauh, Penang - Nurul Izzah Anwar complains to the Election Commission (EC) returning officer over the issue of BN’s polling agent’s attire.

According to Sinchew Daily, the polling agent is seen wearing a uniform with a design similar to Umno’s logo while on duty during the early voting today.

Meanwhile, BN candidate Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said explains that they had shown their uniform design to the EC in advance, saying the commission had no issue with it.

Shahrir slams Muhyiddin, Taki for contradictions

12.55pm: Umno veteran Shahrir Samad takes a swipe at Perikatan Nasional (PN) after two of its senior leaders gave conflicting statements on its plan to form a government post-GE15.

"Now PN has two different positions. Was Taki (Takiyuddin Hassan) speaking for PAS while Muhyiddin Yassin speaking for Bersatu?

"Sometimes they may be confused which hat they were putting on when speaking," says Shahrir after Muhyiddin denied that PN wants to form a coalition government with BN.

Muhyiddin's statement came this morning to refute Takiyuddin, who is PAS secretary-general, who last night told the media that PN may work with BN to form a government.

Shahrir also questions Bersatu's strategy of having several candidates contest under the PAS banner, saying that they may be considered "political frogs" if they are to return to Bersatu after the election and thus have to vacate their seats.

READ MORE: Muhyiddin dismisses Takiyuddin's PN-BN post-GE alliance idea

BN candidate contracts Covid-19, apologises to voters

12.45pm: BN candidate for Bukit Mertajam Tan Yang Pang has tested positive for Covid-19.

Taking to Facebook this morning, Tan apologises to voters in the constituency for not meeting them in person to share his aspiration as the BN candidate and hand out brochures.

"Although I'm on self-quarantine at home, my campaign will go on, thanks to my colleagues in Team Ah Pang (his nickname).

"Team Ah Pang will also monitor the water level at flood-prone areas, and try our level best to extend help," he says.

On Saturday, Tan will face incumbent MP Steven Sim (DAP-Pakatan Harapan) and Steven Koh from PAS' Non-Muslim Supporters Wing (DHPP) who's representing Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the seat.

Prabakaran, Tian Chua pot-shots becoming personal

12pm: Batu, Kuala Lumpur – The Batu parliamentary seat independent candidate Tian Chua takes aim at Pakatan Harapan’s candidate P Prabakaran’s father for being in MIC and questions the latter’s intentions when he ran as an independent in the 14th general election in 2018.

Chua’s latest brief statement to the media is for Prabakaran to stop the childish attacks and “focus on what you can do for Batu voters”.

Responding immediately, Prabakaran denies his father having membership with any party while clarifying he was never a proxy but was invited by Chua to help win him the seat.

He adds that Chua’s participation in the Sheraton Move that prevented Anwar Ibrahim from becoming prime minister is on social media.

Prabakaran continues to stand by his claim that the former Harapan member’s remark that “one vote for me (Chua), is one vote for Harapan” would confuse the electorate, especially Harapan’s supporters.

Is Ismail Sabri so naïve, asks Kit Siang

11.30am: Does a "handless and feetless" Ismail Sabri Yaakob really thinks he is going to be prime minister even if BN wins, asks Lim Kit Siang.

The caretaker prime minister yesterday said that the claims that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wanted to be prime minister after the 15th general election are all “fairy tales”.

As a response, the DAP veteran leader says he is really amazed and questions if "Ismail Sabri is being naïve or he is just dumb?"

Lim points out that the latest statement by Zahid that the Yang di Pertuan Agong will decide who will be the prime minister if BN wins should put the “nail in the coffin” of Ismail Sabri’s hopes to be the prime minister.

"Does Ismail Sabri realise that being the Umno/BN 'poster boy' does not guarantee him the premiership after the election?"

Early voting begins

10am: The early voting process is underway for military personnel, police personnel and their spouses.

There are 224,828 early voters. According to the Election Commission, 16 percent voted as of 9am.

Muhyiddin calls for Malay support to reclaim Putrajaya

9.30am: Muhyiddin Yassin said that Perikatan Nasional (PN), which he leads, needs 80 percent of Malay support to reclaim Putrajaya.

Speaking at a ceramah in Taman Sri Keramat last night, the former prime minister said his coalition is contesting 171 seats in the peninsula, in Sabah and in Sarawak.

“If we can win 115 seats, the Election Commission (EC) will call to inform us. That is what I am waiting for,” Muhyiddin told a crowd of about 500 in the Setiawangsa constituency.

“But, what if we can't make it? What will happen if BN or Pakatan Harapan win? You have the obligation and duty to save the country. Do not let it fall into the hands of those without integrity.

“This is the way. Tell this to all the voters, especially Malays,” he said, adding that PN will also work hard to get the support of all races.

Without divulging further details, he says PN secure a large portion of Malay support.

"Today, I can say a close to a large portion of Malay support PN. I don't want to talk about percentages.

"But in the coming days, I want to make sure at least 80 percent of Malay support us and PN can form a government."

Due to the heavy rain last night, a large portion of the audience was clad in raincoats and carried umbrellas. Some took shelter under the tents provided.

Muhyiddin also said PN is the best coalition to lead the country, given its track record.

“Harapan claims it only ruled the country for 22 months and thus deserves a full term. But what had Harapan done? Nothing. I am saying PN was only there for 17 months and we poured in RM530 billion aid to alleviate the suffering of the rakyat,” he said.

Hadi: Non-Muslims treated well in PAS states

9.15am: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's tour took him to Negeri Sembilan yesterday.

According to Bernama, Hadi is asking non-Muslims not to be afraid of PAS because it has a track record of treating them well.

"In states under PAS, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, there are no wrongdoings under Perikatan Nasional's rule. There is stability and unity.

"The Chinese and Indian families can live in Muslim villages," he says during an event in Port Dickson.

Hadi was stumping for Rafiei Mustapha, the PN-PAS candidate for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat.

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