DAY 11 | 'PKR working hard, PN is the one divided'

DAY 11 | Candidates of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election are on the 11th day of their campaign trail. There are four days left before voters head to the polls on May 11.

Malaysiakini reports live from the ground.

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This concludes our live blog for the 11th day of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign.

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‘PKR working hard, PN is the one divided’

9.45pm: Ampang Pecah, Selangor - Human Resources Minister Steven Sim dismisses claims that PKR was making less effort in campaigning for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

“The menteri besar (Amirudin Shari) is here. No such thing. PKR and BN are campaigning heavily here.

“From what I understand, the other side (Perikatan Nasional) is the one divided. I heard stories about PAS boycotting…maybe got two or three factions in Bersatu,” Sim (above) says during an event with the residents of Ampang Pecah.

The DAP leader adds that he was satisfied by the cooperation shown between coalition government parties and was grateful for it.

Early voting concludes, turnout 97pct

7.30pm: Early voting for 769 police and army personnel, and their spouses concludes with a turnout of 97 percent.

The process involved two polling centres - Dewan Serbaguna Maktab PDRM and Rejimen Semboyan Divisyen Keempat Infantri at Kem Eskrine from 8pm to 5pm.

"The Election Commission (EC) congratulates the returning officer and his team for performing his duties well today," EC secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak says in a statement.

‘Honk if agree’ - PN supporters take to the streets

6pm: Kuala Kubu Baharu, Selangor - Around 50 Perikatan Nasional supporters gather at the intersection near Dataran KKB to campaign for Khairul Azhari Saut.

They wave PN flags and hold placards, highlighting some issues against the government, with one depicting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as a clown.

They also hold signs that read "Tekan Hon Tanda Setuju" (honk if agree), to which some passing vehicles respond.

No reports on bribery - EC

3.20pm: The Election Commission (EC) has not received any complaints or reports from any party regarding bribery to voters or misuse of government assets and machinery during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign.

EC chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh says to date, it received one report concerning the display of the image of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during the campaign.

Yesterday, a man was sentenced to one month in jail and fined RM3,000 by the Kuala Kubu Baharu Magistrate’s Court for displaying Sultan Ibrahim’s photo during the campaign.

“The case has been resolved. So, we hope all quarters will continue this positive momentum and conduct the remaining days of the campaign with civility and mutual respect,” Bernama reports him as saying.

Meanwhile, he says the EC expects voter turnout for the by-election this Saturday to exceed 75 percent.

Early voting begins

10am: Pakatan Harapan candidate Pang Sock Tao arrives at the polling centre for early voters at about 9.05am and spends 15 minutes observing the process.

Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut is also sighted reviewing the progress of the early voting process at the hall.

The Election Commission (EC) says early voter turnout was at 24 percent at 9am.

In addition to the Royal Malaysian Police College multipurpose hall, early voting is also carried out at the 4th Infantry Division of the Royal Signals Regiment, Erskine Camp, which opened at 8am and will close at 5pm.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, which sees a four-cornered clash between Pang, Khairul, Hafizah Zainuddin (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Nyau Ke Xin (independent), is being held following the death of the incumbent Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21.

‘PN’s morale appears to have collapsed’

9am: Perikatan Nasional seems to have almost surrendered in the Kuala Kubu Baharu polls, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

“I read a media report about the PAS secretary-general’s (Takiyuddin Hassan) statement, ‘if Pakatan Harapan is destined to win’.

“That sentence shows that PN’s morale and spirit have collapsed and it is as if they are almost ready to surrender,” he says on TikTok.

Fahmi is commenting on a Malaysia Gazette report citing Takiyuddin as saying that PN will file a petition against Harapan if the latter wins in the Kuala Kubu Baharu polls.

“We are giving a warning that if Harapan is destined to win we will file an election petition, that’s for sure,” Takiyuddin reportedly said.

This is in reference to the 15th general election result where the Terengganu Election Court annulled PAS candidate Ahmad Amzad’s victory for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat.

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