PENANG With five days more to polling day, Pakatan Rakyat has returned to the Han Chiang College field to seek a fresh mandate from thousands of Penangites to rule the state government for another term.
The overwhelming support from the crowd, which swelled to about 50,000 by 9pm when PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim arrived, was a good indication that support for Pakatan from the non-Malays remains strong.
To express further their support for Pakatan, Anwar, often touted as the seventh prime minister, was greeted with screams and cheers as he took to the stage to speak.
"If we look all around us in Penang, it seems that the 1Malaysia flags have won the elections, but on May 5, we will announce our victory," he said to loud and resounding applause.
He then repeated the Pakatan promises to reduce petrol price, provide free higher education and remove toll charges once the coalition assumes power in Putrajaya.
After Anwar left to attend a ceramah in Permatang Pauh, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng arrived, about 11.15pm and was greeted by the pouring rain and frenzied screams from the crowd.
The overwhelming support from the crowd, which swelled to about 50,000 by 9pm when PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim arrived, was a good indication that support for Pakatan from the non-Malays remains strong.
To express further their support for Pakatan, Anwar, often touted as the seventh prime minister, was greeted with screams and cheers as he took to the stage to speak."If we look all around us in Penang, it seems that the 1Malaysia flags have won the elections, but on May 5, we will announce our victory," he said to loud and resounding applause.
He then repeated the Pakatan promises to reduce petrol price, provide free higher education and remove toll charges once the coalition assumes power in Putrajaya.
After Anwar left to attend a ceramah in Permatang Pauh, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng arrived, about 11.15pm and was greeted by the pouring rain and frenzied screams from the crowd.
'No free food... only free rain'
"We can't give you anything free, no free food or drinks but only free rain. Penangites are really brave to stay on despite the rain, not afraid of storms. Ini kalilah (this time)," Guan Eng said and the crowd replied 'ubah' (change) loudly.
"We must be brave to change. It is not easy as we need to win Penang. Will you give us the support?" He asked and the audience cried 'yes!'.
DAP senior adviser Lim Kit Siang arrived at 11.30pm to even louder cheers from the people, who were now soaked in the rain and standing on muddy ground.
"We can't give you anything free, no free food or drinks but only free rain. Penangites are really brave to stay on despite the rain, not afraid of storms. Ini kalilah (this time)," Guan Eng said and the crowd replied 'ubah' (change) loudly.
"We must be brave to change. It is not easy as we need to win Penang. Will you give us the support?" He asked and the audience cried 'yes!'.
DAP senior adviser Lim Kit Siang arrived at 11.30pm to even louder cheers from the people, who were now soaked in the rain and standing on muddy ground.
In his speech, the senior Lim told the supporters that Pakatan only wanted Anwar as prime minister.
"If we want Anwar to be PM, we need a political tsunami from north to south, east to west, to overcome the BN," Lim said, shielded by an umbrella under the pouring rain.
Guan Eng urged Penangites to help Lim, his father, to win in Gelang Patah by giving their votes to Pakatan in Penang.
"Ask your friends in Johor not to make any mistake again by voting for Kit Siang. If he loses, we don't want to be your friend anymore," he jested, and laughed aloud.
The venue is a historical site for Pakatan as a similar massive crowd had gathered there a day before the March 2008 election, a prelude to the coalition ousting the BN state government in Penang.
In that election, DAP swept all the 19 seats it contested, PKR nine and PAS won one. The remaining seats were won by Umno while its BN allies - Gerakan, MCA and MIC – lost all seats they contested.
The college field, which can fit about 60,000 people to the brim, is also significant because the BN has tried to compete with the crowd size with a concert by Korean superstar Psy on Feb 11, which attracted about 40,000 people.
Prime Minister Najib Razak and his entourage of wife and children and ministers also attended the event.
However, Najib and the BN leaders were disappointed when a section of the crowd replied 'No' three times when the premier asked if they were ready for the BN to take over.
On nomination day, April 20, the 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club, which openly supports Najib and has flooded Penang with its blue flags, held a concert with many local and foreign superstars attending.
Although the organiser said that 101,002 tickets were sold, the crowd that attended the glamorous event was far less than that number.
Tonight’s DAP event was also necessary to fight a psychological warfare with BN, which through the 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club has been wooing voters with free dinners, drinks and attractive lucky draws.
During the ceramah, many of the party leaders urged the crowd to enjoy the free meals and gifts but to cast their votes for Pakatan.
"If we want Anwar to be PM, we need a political tsunami from north to south, east to west, to overcome the BN," Lim said, shielded by an umbrella under the pouring rain.
Guan Eng urged Penangites to help Lim, his father, to win in Gelang Patah by giving their votes to Pakatan in Penang.
"Ask your friends in Johor not to make any mistake again by voting for Kit Siang. If he loses, we don't want to be your friend anymore," he jested, and laughed aloud.
The venue is a historical site for Pakatan as a similar massive crowd had gathered there a day before the March 2008 election, a prelude to the coalition ousting the BN state government in Penang.
In that election, DAP swept all the 19 seats it contested, PKR nine and PAS won one. The remaining seats were won by Umno while its BN allies - Gerakan, MCA and MIC – lost all seats they contested.
The college field, which can fit about 60,000 people to the brim, is also significant because the BN has tried to compete with the crowd size with a concert by Korean superstar Psy on Feb 11, which attracted about 40,000 people.
Prime Minister Najib Razak and his entourage of wife and children and ministers also attended the event.
However, Najib and the BN leaders were disappointed when a section of the crowd replied 'No' three times when the premier asked if they were ready for the BN to take over.
On nomination day, April 20, the 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club, which openly supports Najib and has flooded Penang with its blue flags, held a concert with many local and foreign superstars attending.Although the organiser said that 101,002 tickets were sold, the crowd that attended the glamorous event was far less than that number.
Tonight’s DAP event was also necessary to fight a psychological warfare with BN, which through the 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club has been wooing voters with free dinners, drinks and attractive lucky draws.
During the ceramah, many of the party leaders urged the crowd to enjoy the free meals and gifts but to cast their votes for Pakatan.
Supporters make donations as well
The DAP has been feeling a little shaky with the various gimmicks of the 1Malaysia Club, describing it as money politics out to draw votes from its supporters.
Earlier, as early as 7pm, all roads leading to the Han Chiang College were jam packed with cars parked up to 1km away.
Pakatan leaders, including DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, took turns to address the crowd while waiting for Guan Eng and Kit Siang, to arrive on the scene.
By the time Karpal spoke, the rain had poured mercilessly, but the crowd with their raincoats and umbrellas did not budge.
Most of the speakers made the called for Guan Eng to be retained as chief minister, to which the crowd responded loudly and positively.
Throughout the event, screams and shouts of 'Ubah! Ini Kalilah!' were heard from many in the crowd, a number of whom also made donations to the DAP election campaign.
Earlier, as early as 7pm, all roads leading to the Han Chiang College were jam packed with cars parked up to 1km away.
Pakatan leaders, including DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, took turns to address the crowd while waiting for Guan Eng and Kit Siang, to arrive on the scene.
By the time Karpal spoke, the rain had poured mercilessly, but the crowd with their raincoats and umbrellas did not budge.
Most of the speakers made the called for Guan Eng to be retained as chief minister, to which the crowd responded loudly and positively.
Throughout the event, screams and shouts of 'Ubah! Ini Kalilah!' were heard from many in the crowd, a number of whom also made donations to the DAP election campaign.
As the event came to an end, party officials announced to the crowd that a total of RM236,000 had been received.
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