SG BAKAP BLOG | Nearly 1,500 at Harapan grand finale

DAY 14 | It’s the last day for candidates to campaign for the Sungai Bakap by-election.

Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin is up against Perikatan Nasional’s Abidin Ismail in a straight fight.

The polling day is on July 6.

Thank you for following Malaysiakini’s live report.

Nearly 1,500 at Harapan grand finale

11.45pm: Puteri Gunung, Nibong Tebal - Minutes before curtains close on campaign period, turnout at Pakatan Harapan’s final rally for the Sungai Bakap by-election reaches its peak.

Almost 1,500 Harapan supporters show up as PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli gives his speech as the rally’s final act.

Seats are filled, food vendors are serving fast as the ruling coalition’s supporters look forward to voting for Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin tomorrow morning.

“Wake up early and vote for Cikgu Joohari,” Rafizi says in his parting words to Sungai Bakap voters.

The crowd then lined up to take pictures with Harapan leadership including Rafizi.

Permatang Pauh voters suffering under new MP, Sim says

10.00pm: Puteri Gunung, Nibong Tebal - Permatang Pauh constituents are turning to the service centre of the neighbouring Bukit Mertajam parliamentary constituency for help, due to the Permatang Pauh MP’s alleged incompetence.

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim says the constituents who voted for PAS’ Muhammad Fawwaz Mat Jan over PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar in Permatang Pauh during the last general election are now suffering the consequences.

“People in Permatang Pauh used to be comfortable. If they have any problem, they can find Nurul Izzah even though she was in the opposition.

“But now, they can’t even find him (Muhammad Fawwaz). Even if they found him, he gave many excuses (not to help the constituents),” Sim says to over 1,000 people attending Harapan’s final campaign rally for the Sungai Bakap by-election.

Sim, who is also the human resources minister, urges constituents to vote for the Harapan candidate tomorrow for the sake of their wellbeing.

Harapan flash mob

6.00pm: Puteri Gunung, Nibong Tebal - Around 100 members of the Pakatan Harapan election campaign machinery are holding a flash mob at a four-way junction here today.

The mob is chanting “Vote for number one”, referring to the position of the Harapan candidate on the ballot paper.

Police officers on motorbikes are positioned about 50m away, not intervening with the proceedings.

Rain expected on polling day

5.15pm: Sungai Bakap - The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecasts rain in the morning and thunderstorms in the afternoon in Sungai Bakap on polling day tomorrow.

The department says in a Facebook post that the weather is expected to clear up in the evening.

Voting for the by-election will take place from 8am to 6pm at nine polling centres involving 65 streams.

The by-election is a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin and Nibong Tebal PAS vice-chief Abidin Ismail representing Perikatan Nasional.

- Bernama

With less than 24 hours to go, Harapan gets gay-smeared

4pm: Sungai Bakap, Nibong Tebal - Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil condemns an attempt to tarnish Pakatan Harapan’s image amid the ongoing campaign for the by-election.

With fewer than 24 hours until polling begins, a screenshot of a “poll” conducted on WhatsApp from an unknown source went viral as it reads “Vote Harapan For Freedom” with an image of homosexual men kissing in the background, with Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin’s picture just right below it.

Apart from Fahmi, Harapan’s Sungai Bakap election director Mohamad Abdul Hamid says this is an attempt to woo Malay voters to vote for the opposition through scare tactics.

“This is not just another desperate measure from the opposition but an obvious insult towards the wisdom of Sungai Bakap constituents.”

‘Fence-sitters will decide Sg Bakap’s winner’

2pm: The government machinery needs to intensify its efforts to woo fence-sitters as the campaign enters its final day if it wants Pakatan Harapan candidate to win the Sungai Bakap by-election tomorrow, said PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli.

According to Bernama, he reminded that fence-sitters will decide the outcome of the by-election.

“Please remember, our fate is determined by fence-sitters, and they are the largest group in any election. It is up to them.

“We have to convey (the message) to the fence-sitters because emotions never bring food to the table.

“Emotions do not solve water issues, infrastructure issues, do not open more universities for our children and only benefit politicians,” he said at the Ceramah Perpaduan at Sungai Bakap Perdana 1 last night.

Also present were Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan and Harapan Joohari Ariffin.

Joohari can entice young voters but…

8.48am: Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin’s background as an educator can win the hearts of young voters in the Sungai Bakap state by-election this Saturday, said coalition youth deputy chief Adam Adli Abd Halim.

“In fact, they also regard him as a highly respected figure, and this is the advantage that Joohari has, being very close to the youth,” he said when met by reporters at the “Kayuhan Komuniti Sihat” programme at Dewan MPKK Sungai Kecil last night.

However, the deputy youth and sports minister acknowledges that it is not easy to approach the youth during this election campaign.

“Approaching them through their interests is one thing, convincing them that we can be the answer or solution to their questions and challenges, especially in terms of economy, job opportunities, education and so on, is another matter,” Adam adds.

‘Economy on downward spiral’

8am: Perikatan Nasional’s grand finale event yesterday saw over 1,500 people attending the gathering at Taman Widuri, Nibong Tebal.

Present at the event were PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Gerakan president Dominic Lau and Malaysian Indian People Party (MIPP) president P Punithan.

On the stage, Muhyiddin fired a salvo against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“After two years of Anwar helming the nation, people can evaluate his performance.

“It’s not only Sungai Bakap residents but everyone across the nation including foreign experts.

“If we look at the economy, for example, it going on a downward spiral,” the Pagoh MP claims.

The former prime minister also spoke about the rising cost of living, Malaysia’s competitiveness and the recent diesel subsidy rationalisation.

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