DAY 8 | 'Why didn't you push for Gerakan to contest,' Lau asked

DAY 8 | It’s the eighth day of the 14-day campaigning period for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election before voters head to the polls on May 11.

Malaysiakini reports live from the ground.

Thank you for following Malaysiakini’s live report

This concludes our live blog for the eighth day of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign.

Support Malaysiakini by becoming a subscriber.

Subscribe now.

No-show again for Takiyuddin

11pm: PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan is still nowhere to be seen for Perikatan Nasional’s campaign in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

Today, he did not attend PN’s ceramah held in Ampang Pecah, which means it’s the second time he missed his coalition’s event there.

Earlier, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said it was “strange” for top PAS leaders to give the campaigns a miss. However, Selangor PN chief Azmin Ali dismissed the former’s statement.

Lau asked why he didn’t push for Gerakan to contest

10.35pm: Rasa, Selangor – Gerakan president Dominic Lau is confronted by a man at a coffee shop during a ceramah kelompok in the Chinese constituency of Rasa.

The man asks Lau why he didn’t push for Gerakan’s Henry Teoh to contest. He then continues his drinking after Teoh intervenes and calms him down.

The ceramah kelompok tonight is to assist Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut in his election campaign.

Approximately 40 people attend, with speakers including Lau, secretary-general Loh Kah Yong, and deputy president Oh Tong Keong. However, Khairul is not present.

Gerakan leaders also speak on issues such as the rising cost of living and the collaboration between DAP and Umno.

Both candidates sidestep Rawang incinerator issue

7.30pm: It appears that candidates from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional refuse to state their stand on the Rawang incinerator issue.

Earlier today, Jaringan Rawang Tolak Insinerator (JRTI) coordinator Liow Yeong Lih led several members to the night market in Kuala Kubu Baharu, seeking the duo’s stance on whether they support the construction of an incinerator in Batu Arang.

PN’s Khairul Azhari Saut says, 'I've just become a candidate, so I'm not aware of the story. Therefore, I won't make any comments.”

Harapan's Pang Sock Tao, on the other hand, left the area upon seeing JRTI members.

According to Liow, they had tried seeking Pang earlier in Rasa but to no avail.

Approach MIC if problems unsolved, Indian voters told

4.31pm: MIC president SA Vigneswaran says Indian voters of Kuala Kubu Baharu voters can question his party leaders over problems unsolved if the government candidate wins the by-election.

“I have come as MIC president to ask voters to choose Pakatan Harapan (candidate).

“If we win and problems here persist, you may approach us and we will raise the matter with the government,” he tells over 200 people who attended a prayer session at Rettai Muniswarar Temple in Kerling today.

Also present at the event is Harapan’s candidate Pang Sock Tao, who pledged to offer the best of services in the event she wins the polls on May 11.

‘Ah Long debt accusation a slander’

3.29pm: Perikatan Nasional’s Kuala Kubu Baharu aspirant Khairul Azhari Saut describes the accusation that he owed money to loan sharks as slander.

“To me, it’s a vile slander like what happened during the nomination period when reporters questioned my academic credentials.

“As for this case, I run my own business and it’s common for entrepreneurs to have debts,” Astro Awani reports him as saying.

He adds that like a common person, he does have housing and car loans but not with loan sharks.

“With loan sharks, they will hold our bank cards, have our houses sprayed with red paint and we can’t even go anywhere,” he adds.

Independent candidate announces 20 pledges

1.30pm: Independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin has announced her 20 campaign pledges.

Her campaign pledges include ensuring essential goods prices are always monitored.

She adds that she has visited 20 percent of the Kuala Kubu Baharu constituency.

A week in, KKB poll campaigning enters critical period

11.40am: The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign is entering a critical period for all contesting parties and candidates to redouble their efforts to win as many votes as possible.

With seven days left before the May 11 poll, the flag war between contesting parties - except for the independent candidate - has picked up in several locations in the constituency.

Bernama reports that unpredictable weather conditions - heavy downpours in the afternoon and sometimes in the morning - has affected programmes lined up by the candidates, forcing some to be cancelled.

Thus far, Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao has an average of more than 10 programmes a day and chooses markets and restaurants as campaign locations to gain voter support.

To win the hearts of voters, the former press secretary to the housing and local government minister also conducted house visits and walkabouts in the constituency and campaigned online to attract the support of young voters.

Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut, 54, has a similar strategy, and according to PN deputy chairperson Dominic Lau, the areas visited by the coalition candidate have reached 50 percent thus far.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s candidate, Hafizah Zainuddin, 50, who uses a face-to-face approach with voters through ceramah, says that her campaign has thus far reached 30 percent of the constituency.

Independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin, 29, who is the youngest candidate for the by-election, has chosen house visits and interaction on social media. Thus far, her campaign has covered 55 percent of the constituency.

Declare your assets, clear your name, PN candidate dared

8.45am: Pakatan Harapan Youth has dared the Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, Khairul Azhari Saut, to declare his assets and liabilities.

According to Harapan youth information chief Ammar Atan, this is to enable Khairul to clear his name amid claims that he owed close to RM40,000 to loan sharks.

“Following the controversy regarding Khairul’s academic qualifications, now he has become embroiled in questions about his alleged debt. In fact, he has avoided answering when confronted with this topic.

“According to the Kelantan mufti, borrowing from loan sharks is a sinful act, and Khairul’s act of avoiding answering on this topic may be a prelude to how he will deal with his constituents later, should he be elected,” Ammar says in a statement today.

Thus, he dares Khairul to declare his assets and liabilities, so that aspersions would no longer be cast on his suitability as a candidate.

Please join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news and views that matter.

Don't ride on race and religion, ride the 'bison' - PRM candidate

COMMENT | Integrity, honesty more important than certs

At Labour Day bash, DAP-MIC link arms for Indian votes

DAY 7 | Selangor MB calls Azmin failed minister

Forced to carry corpses 3km on foot, Orang Asli rue 'no allocation' excuse