DAY 8 | Annuar Musa claims Zahid becoming ‘DAP son’

DAY 8 | It's day eight of campaigning for the six state elections.

Malaysiakini reports live from the ground.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Did Rafizi find MACC chief, asks Bersatu leader

• Bersih reprimands leaders for using state resources for campaigning

• Penang PAS tells Lau to bring his own machinery

Thank you for following Malaysiakini’s live report

This concludes our live blog for the eighth day of the state polls campaign.

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Annuar Musa claims Zahid becoming ‘DAP son’

11pm: Permatang, Selangor - Former Umno leader Annuar Musa is accusing Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of becoming a “son of DAP”.

The former Kereteh MP said when the Malays are split, the opponents who are the minority realise that when they are united, they can dominate “the majority and orang asal”.

He is blaming Malay leaders such as Zahid for being used by DAP.

“When there is Harapan ceramah, we can’t see DAP leaders on stage, we can’t hear their voices, they are mute.”

“Because now their status is being guaranteed (terjamin), they sit in safe deposit areas.”

Kota Damansara candidates engage in dialogue with RA

10pm : Kota Damansara, Selangor - Taman Setia Warisan Residents Association organises a dialogue session between voters and three election candidates from Perikatan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and PSM.

Its chairperson Mat Saad Ahmad tells Malaysiakini they took the initiative to enable voters to engage directly with all candidates on the same stage tonight and learn their plans for Kota Damansara.

"The people here can ask about the manifesto being offered by all the candidates and their parties and enquire about their plan to help solve problems that we have been facing in this area.

"Two main issues here are flash flood and traffic congestion due to over development around Bukit Subang area," he says.

According to Mat Saad, the association planned the programme several days ago and received a good response from candidates Radzlan Jalaludin (PN), Izuan Ismail (Harapan) and S Sivarajan (PSM).

No public holiday on Aug 12 for Selangor voters, says MB

8:45pm: Shah Alam, Selangor - The Selangor government said there are no plans to declare Aug 12 as a special public holiday to assist voters in visiting polling stations for the state election.

According to NST, caretaker Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said the decision was taken after taking into account the financial considerations involving sudden holidays.

However, he expresses confidence that voters had already made necessary arrangements in response to previous announcements.

"If there is a need (for a special public holiday), the federal government can declare it. But there will be financial implications in terms of salaries for workers," he was quoted as saying by NST after attending a launch in Shah Alam today.

Harapan, BN will lose if education quotas removed - Anwar

8:30pm: George Town, Penang - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed the belief that the abolition of Bumiputera quotas in higher learning institutions will result in both Pakatan Harapan and BN facing defeat in all future elections.

According to FMT, the Harapan chairperson further emphasised that advocating for the system's abolishment would "ignite turmoil in this country."

He highlighted the importance of considering Malaysia's history and the "social contract" while engaging in discussions concerning the Bumiputera education quota.

“If Anwar Ibrahim says scrap the quota system, we will lose all elections in this country and you will suffer more (if the country is run) by PAS and Bersatu.

“Understand that,” he was quoted as saying by FMT in a dialogue with Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang students today.

He said this in response to a student's inquiry on his stance on the quota system.

Harapan, BN compatible, unlike PN parties -  Zahid

6.30pm: Sungai Dua, Penang - Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pays a visit to Jeti Pengkalan Machang.

There are about 400 to 500 people welcoming him, including villagers and BN supporters.

Zahid, the BN chairperson, tells reporters that Pakatan Harapan and BN have a good level of compatibility (tahap keserasian yang baik).

“We have already formed a coalition government for eight months; this is a test for us in Penang,” he says.

Zahid adds that Gerakan president Dominic Lau’s recent snub by PAS gives the impression that there is no compatibility between Perikatan Nasional parties.

Bersatu leader asks Rafizi if he met MACC chief after GE15

5pm: Suka Menanti, Kedah - Former Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan has asked Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli to clarify the events that transpired after his data firm, Invoke Solutions Sdn Bhd, was raided by the MACC last year.

During his speech last night at Suka Menanti, Kedah, the Tasek Gelugor MP asked if Rafizi ever kept to his promise of “finding” MACC chief Azam Baki after the 15th general election (GE15).

“A few days before GE15’s polling day, he (Rafizi) came on stage to talk about Invoke’s office raids... He then said if Pakatan Harapan won the elections, he wanted to ‘find’ Azam.

“I am bringing this up now because Rafizi’s statement was intimidation against the authorities… Surely, he has already met Azam and I want to know, what did they discuss?” he asked.

Subsequently, the Bersatu leader highlighted that there had been no mentions or updates regarding the raids since GE15.

Wan Saiful then jokingly said that maybe, the two discussed Azam’s contract extension for his post at the anti-graft agency.

“Perhaps, he (Rafizi) said (to Azam) ‘Thank you for raiding my office’,” he added.

Last year, on Nov 15 and 16, Invoke’s office was raided twice. In the aftermath, Rafizi asserted that these raids constituted political persecution aimed to sway public sentiment against Harapan before polling day on Nov 19.

Rafizi also claimed the raids came after an NGO lodged a report against him over his assets declaration.

Stop using govt resources for campaigning - Bersih urges govt

3.20pm: Electoral watchdog Bersih reminds the government to refrain from using federal resources for campaigning and other election-related activities.

This comes after critics blasted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for using a government-owned helicopter to attend an event at Felda Teloi Timur, Kedah today.

In a statement today, the group understands that using government resources can be beneficial for campaigning for pragmatic and security reasons.

However, it reminds the government that these advantages should not be abused to break the 3Cs principles (no campaigning, no conditions and no candidates).

As such, Bersih advises the prime minister and other ministers to disclose the costs of their travel expenses, reminding the government of Pakatan Harapan’s strong advocacy for transparency.

“...Politicians who have this advantage due to the trust given to them by the people must always be humble and not behave as if they personally purchased these vehicles with their own money.

“The use of government resources during this election season highlights the urgent need for the government to engage in discussions with the opposition to enact new legislation to regulate the use of resources by both caretaker and federal governments during the election period,” Bersih says.

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PN lures N Sembilan youths with goodies in manifesto

2.30pm: Seremban, Negeri Sembilan - A RM300 subsidy for B2 motorcycle licenses (for those not exceeding 250cc) is among eight offers made by Perikatan Nasional (PN), should the coalition capture Negeri Sembilan in the Aug 12 state election.

This was announced by PN deputy chairperson Ahmad Faizal Azumu during the online manifesto unveiling today.

According to him, the subsidy will apply one-off to qualified youths, to spur the gig economy.

He says PN will also introduce a "rent to own" initiative, which provides housing at affordable rates for youths, including the newly married.

Also proposed were an annual RM1 million allocation to develop the e-sport industry, upgrades to religious schools and up to 20 percent subsidy on school bus fees.

‘Bring your own machinery, ours mobilised elsewhere’ - Lau told

11.20am: Bayan Lepas, Penang - Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff has urged Gerakan president Dominic Lau to bring his own machinery to campaign for the Bayan Lepas state seat.

"Lau has to bring his own machinery. Even we (PAS) lack machinery as they are already mobilised in places where we are contesting.

"So whoever's contesting, he has to bring his own machinery and lead it," Fauzi was quoted as telling Utusan Malaysia.

His comments come following the PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan's call to “assist and protect” Lau during the campaign period.

Fauzi said the state PAS representatives will meet the locals to explain the circumstances that led to the situation between the party, and its Perikatan Nasional (PN) ally Gerakan.

Asked about Takiyuddin's call to quell the dissatisfaction stemming from Lau being fielded in the Malay-majority constituency Bayan Lepas, Fauzi said the fact that no PAS members have gone independent to challenge the decision shows that there is no rebellion, to begin with.

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8am: Rantau, Negeri Sembilan - The BN machinery is still chugging along in Rantau even in the absence of its candidate Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who is resting after coming down with an influenza infection.

Also seen stumping for Mohamad is the MCA president Wee Ka Siong, who urges the local Chinese Malaysian community to support the BN candidate.

"The campaign is going smoothly even though Tok Mat is not able to meet, and voters are understanding of the situation. The campaign machinery is still moving as planned," a campaign worker, who declined to be named, tells Malaysiakini.

Mohamad announced on Thursday night that he was sick and was instructed to rest for three days, to avoid spreading the disease.

Harapan efficient in administering Negeri Sembilan - analysts

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Penang DAP alarmed over losing 20pct Chinese votes, cites surveys

In Negeri Sembilan, candidates soften PN's image