Good morning.

Malaysiakini would like to wish our Hindu readers a Happy Deepavali. May light triumph over darkness.

We will be taking a short break this long weekend, and be back with the Kini Morning Brief on Tuesday.

But for now, here's what you need to know today.

Key Highlights

  • Back to the polls - Nov 19

  • Anwar goes to 'Lost World'

  • Ismail Sabri and the 'wilderness'




Back to the polls - Nov 19

Following the watershed 2018 general election, the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government after just 22 months and two “backdoor” administrations, Malaysians will again cast their ballots to determine the nation's future.

The Election Commission announced that polling will be held on Nov 19 (Saturday) and the nomination process will take place two weeks earlier on Nov 5.

All the familiar faces, including one that has been around for nearly a century, are still in the running, except for former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who will have to follow the election updates from prison.

Since the last general election, the political landscape has become more fractured and with Undi18 and automatic voter registration in place, pundits are having trouble foreseeing the future.

Harapan is attempting to energise its disillusioned supporters to come out in droves like before - but BN-Umno are hoping that the dark clouds of gloom persist.

For first-time voters, Kini News Lab has prepared a guide.

HIGHLIGHTS

Malaysia goes to the polls on Nov 19
Do I look senile to you, Dr M asks over calls to quit politics
Musa Hitam: From 'nationalism to materialism', Umno might not form govt




Anwar goes to ‘Lost World’

Pakatan Harapan supremo Anwar Ibrahim, who is still pursuing the elusive dream of becoming prime minister, has decided to move from the safe coastal Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan to Tambun in Perak, where the popular Lost World Waterpark is located.

After the last general election, the PKR president had one foot in the Prime Minister’s Office before Dr Mahathir Mohamad shut the door - just like he did two decades earlier.

Speaking at the Harapan convention in Perak last night, Anwar vowed to capture Tambun in the forthcoming 15th general election.

“Perak will be on the frontline of our crusade this time and I will take Tambun,“ he said.

Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution confirmed that Anwar, 75, is Harapan’s prime minister candidate and that seat negotiations between the coalition’s parties have been settled.

Talks with non-coalition allies can now commence.

HIGHLIGHTS

Anwar bids farewell to PD, vows to capture Tambun
Golden chance for a PM from Perak, says Nga
Make me PM, I will help you - Ismail Sabri dangles carrot to hawkers




Ismail Sabri and the ‘wilderness’

Ismail Sabri Yaakob continued to draw flak over his remarks concerning the probe into former attorney-general Tommy Thomas over the latter’s controversial memoir, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness.”

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang accused the caretaker prime minister of “sending justice back into the wilderness” for instructing the current attorney-general Idris Harun to take immediate action against his predecessor.

Thomas is accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Act and abusing his powers.

Claiming that Ismail Sabri is undermining the constitutional position of the attorney-general, Lim said the caretaker prime minister should uphold, and not subvert the constitution

Ismail Sabri was also criticised for admitting that he declassified the reports on Thomas’ book and the Pulau Batu Puteh issue to serve as political fodder against the opposition in the coming polls.

HIGHLIGHTS

MCA hopeful's ears ringing after 'two phone calls' photo ridiculed
'We are not racists’ - Bersatu Youth rejects label
Mahdzir denies ministry involved in Negeri Sembilan's logging tender



Views that matter

Who would partner Umno to form next govt?
By S Thayaparan
Will DAP work with Umno post-GE15?
By P Gunasegaram
Jokes and bullets: A deadly concoction for GE15
By R Nadeswaran



Other news that matter

  • The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has decreed that all political parties and politicians should abstain from slander, insults and provocations during the campaign period. His Majesty wants a clean and civil election.

  • Kasthuri Patto will not be defending the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat, which she won in the 2013 and 2018 polls. She denied being dropped as a candidate.

  • A group of Orang Asli activists in Gua Musang are mulling legal action against the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) over a directive banning the community from receiving visitors without permission. Jakoa denied the move was politically motivated.



HIGHLIGHTS

IDE: With election on a Saturday, challenge is boosting turnout to 80pct
I will back Harapan if there is a hung Parliament, Siti Kasim says
GE15 date set, but still no flood SOPs from EC - Bersih