DAY 4 | Candidates in friendly campaign trail bump

DAY 4 | The Sungai Bakap by-election campaign enters its fourth day.

Malaysiakini reports live from the ground.

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This concludes Day 4 of the Sungai Bakap by-election campaign.

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Penang cops issue 17 ceramah permits

7.30pm: Penang police issue 17 ceramah permits for the Sungai Bakap by-election campaign, which enters its fourth day today, Bernama reports.

Penang police spokesperson for the by-election, W Puspanathan, says 10 permits were issued to Pakatan Harapan and the remaining to Perikatan Nasional.

“So far, police have not rejected permit applications. Contesting parties just need to apply for permits as early as possible to facilitate approval,” he tells a press conference at the South Seberang Perai district police headquarters.

He also says police have yet to receive any report or complaint regarding election-related offences so far.

“This shows the maturity and respect among politicians and their supporters in this by-election. We hope this will continue until the end of the campaign period. We also warn against any provocation,” he says.

PN’s Abidin well-received by non-Malay voters

7pm: Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail says he has received warm support from non-Malay voters in Sungai Bakap.

Abidin says the presence of PAS’ non-Muslim supporters wing and Gerakan members has helped in his campaign to draw closer to voters from all walks of life.

“Praise be to Allah I have been well received by the Chinese and Indian communities.

“Friends from Gerakan and DHPP have been very helpful in my campaign,” he says during his walkabout at the Puteri Gunung night market in Nibong Tebal today.

Joohari, Abidin in friendly campaign trail bump

6.30pm: Taman Puteri Gunung, Simpang Ampat - The atmosphere at the Puteri Gunung night market becomes briefly heated as both Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional candidates came with their entourage to canvass for votes.

A “chanting war” breaks out with each side shouting their respective slogans as they cross paths.

“Sungai Bakap kita kekal! (Let’s retain Sungai Bakap!)” the PN party workers chanted, while their Harapan counterparts responded with “Perpaduan Sungai Bakap!” (Unity for Sungai Bakap!)".

Despite the commotion surrounding them, Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin and PN candidate Abidin Ismail exchange a friendly greeting and shake hands with each other.

“We’re friends, I’m glad that we can compete in a friendly manner,” Joohari says, adding that he is lucky to be part of such a harmonious election campaign.

Harapan’s Joohari woos voters

6.15pm: Pakatan Harapan’s Joohari Ariffin is going door-to-door in his bid to effectively woo voters in Sungai Bakap, starting with Kampung Changkat Din in Sungai Jawi, before moving to Taman Halaman Indah located about 2.5km from the village, Bernama reports.

He spends about 30 minutes visiting five residents, among them a disabled child Laila Lakisha Abdul Halim, nine years old, who suffers from hydrocephalus, and an elderly resident Siti Kholijah Abdul Talib, 61, who recently underwent eye surgery due to internal bleeding.

After meeting the residents there, the former teacher then continues his journey to Taman Halaman Indah to visit a dialysis patient Hamid Sharif, 73, who has been suffering from the disease for the past six years.

Joohari, who has met about 40 percent of electors, believes that going door-to-door will enable him to “touch the hearts of the voters to pick the right candidate.”

He says voters’ responses to him have been good, a factor he notes is likely due to his friendly personality.

CM: New mosque in early November

3.50pm: The construction of a new mosque on the historic site of Masjid Lama Sungai Bakap, established in 1798, is scheduled to commence in early November, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says.

Bernama reports Chow as saying the project is expected to take about two years to complete, with the state government allocating RM6 million to contribute towards its costs.

“The redevelopment of Masjid Lama Sungai Bakap is part of a broader initiative encompassing seven mosques statewide, supported by a total allocation of RM18 million from the state government,” he shares on Facebook.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also pledged RM7 million towards the development of the mosque during the launch of the project on July 16, 2023.

Six other mosques slated for enhancement under this initiative include Masjid Papan in Seberang Jaya, Masjid Sungai Lokan and Masjid Sungai Dua Utama in Butterworth, Masjid Bandar Raya Seberang Perai, Masjid Lama Sungai Kechil in Nibong Tebal and Masjid Bandar Putra Bertam in Bertam.

‘Govt reps will make it happen’

10.30am: Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan says elected representatives from the opposition do not enjoy the same privileges as those in the government.

As such, if the people want to reach out to the federal government, they should approach a government assemblyperson, not one from the opposition.

“If there are aspirations regarding land ownership in the area, aspirations that have long remained unfulfilled, it’s the government, not the opposition, who will ensure your wishes are met.

“If you ask the opposition, you won’t get it. Opposition representatives don’t enjoy the same treatment as government representatives.

“Joohari Ariffin (Pakatan Harapan candidate) will certainly strive to ensure that the aspirations of all can be achieved,” he said during a ceramah at Kampung Makau Suah, Nibong Tebal, last night.

Trustworthiness, responsibility more valuable: Hashim

8.50am: In Islam, a politician is valued more on his trustworthiness and responsibility, rather than his academic credentials, says PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin.

Hashim echoes PAS election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor in defending the controversy surrounding the academic qualifications of Abidin Ismail, the Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Sungai Bakap by-election.

“Academic qualifications are important, but in Islam, other more valuable qualities are one’s trustworthiness and responsibility.

“Our friends in the past did not even have SRP (Sijil Rendah Pelajaran) qualifications, but when they were true to Islam, Allah elevated their status,” Hashim is quoted telling Utusan Malaysia.

“I’m confident that even though our candidate does not have a PhD, the Sungai Bakap voters will judge him based on his noble values.”

Abidin, who is a former special officer to the late Nor Zamri Latiff, the former Sungai Bakap assemblyperson from PAS, previously admitted that there was a “little mistake” made over the validity of the ISO (International Organization for Standards) certificate he was said to possess during the candidate announcement ceremony.

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