TG PIAI POLLS | The Tanjung Piai by-election campaigning ended tonight with modest crowds at both the BN and Pakatan Harapan rallies, but the messages delivered at both gatherings were anything but modest.
At the Harapan rally, speakers were going all out to paint BN as being racist towards minorities while MCA took pains to ensure any protest votes from the Chinese community will go to MCA instead of former BN partner Gerakan.
Speaking near the Pekan Nanas market square, MCA president Wee Ka Siong (above) pleaded for Chinese voters to side with them.
"Gerakan wants to split the votes. Don't, don't, don't!
"Besides Malay votes, I as MCA president pray for the Chinese votes too!
“We have waited for this chance for a long time!” Wee urged.
About 30 minutes away at Pontian town, Harapan was repeatedly harping on Umno Youth exco Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris' video saying he hopes Umno and PAS get a two-thirds majority so that Chinese voting rights can be taken away.
"This is a crazy person," said Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, who said Malaysia is for all races and religions.
Also in the spotlight was former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's remark about Malay honour being eroded because DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was made finance minister.
The video of Najib's and Wan Muhammad Azri's remarks were repeated twice during the ceramah.
However, it wasn't all about Chinese voters tonight. BN had several satellite ceramah at Malay majority polling districts, including one featuring Najib, and Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.
At his talk in Penerok, Najib rebutted the allegation that his remarks on Lim were racist, and that the latter was nothing like former finance minister Tan Siew Sin.
"Tan never spoke like Guan Eng. (Lim) said the Muafakat Nasional between PAS and Umno is like declaring war on non-Muslims," he said.
Harapan, meanwhile, held a Maulidur Rasul (Prophet Muhammad's birthday)-themed talk in the parking lot of the As Salam eatery near the main intersection of Pontian town.
The poster for the ceramah also promised that there would be a quiz and hampers but Malaysiakini did not spot any at the event itself.
The ceramah shifted between religious talks and politics, with Harapan candidate Karmaine Sardini (above) making a brief pit stop to ask those in attendance to pray for his victory.
As the night wore on, cars bearing BN flags drove past the venue twice, honking loudly as they passed by.
Some 100 people attended the relatively laid back Maulidur Rasul-themed ceramah, which featured speakers like Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, and Johor DAP Youth chief Sheikh Omar Ali.
Meanwhile, Harapan's main talk in Pontian drew about 300 people.
A small group of people at one corner of the main ceramah served as cheerleaders, chanting loudly "Pakatan Harapan" and "undi empat" (vote number four) intermittently. Four is Karmaine's number on the ballot paper.
Speakers for the night included Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.
Top PKR leaders were noticeably absent from both Harapan stages.
The MCA event which started at 7.30pm was more lively, drawing a crowd of about 800 - although the organisers said 1,800 people turned up.
At the beginning of the ceramah, two local singers performed Hokkien songs to warm up the crowd.
When the speeches started, the crowd shouted “er hao (number two)” and “Jeck Seng” enthusiastically throughout the ceramah.
On the final round of campaigning, MCA president Wee Ka Siong urged the voters to not dilute the votes to Gerakan.
The speakers of the night included MCA and Umno leaders, including MCA deputy president Mah Hang Soon, secretary-general Chong Sin Woon, Youth chief Nicole Wong, Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa, Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and Tanjung Piai division chief Jefridin Atan. - Mkini
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