Harapan set to announce PM candidate at today's convention

Pakatan Harapan is set to announce its major plans for the coming general election, including its prime minister candidate at its second convention today.

A 1,000-strong crowd turned up for the full day meeting at Shah Alam.

War drums and sirens were sounded when Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrived, together with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

The chants of "reformasi" were soon overtaken by "hidup Tun" (long live Mahathir) when the leaders entered the hall.

Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah (photo) said the coalition has tried to come up with ideal decisions in a not-so-ideal environment.

He also reiterated the equal status of all four parties, saying it is unlike in BN, where Umno has turned from "abang long" (eldest brother) to "ah long" (loan shark).

A video portraying the struggle of Harapan was then played with its concluding message, "We must win (kita mesti menang)."

The convention then proceeded with its 'people's platform' (pentas rakyat), where representatives from the Youth, Wanita wings and others sectors took to stage to voice their views.

Harapan will then announce its policies later today.

In the evening, the major leaders will deliver their speeches and Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's speech will be read out.

Award-winning singer Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin (photo), who is better known as Aishah, sang "Bahtera Merdeka" to lighten the mood.

The Amanah member said that although artists were not expected to speak out on government policies, they should do so as they were also affected by these policies.

The impact of both the goods and services tax (GST) and the highway tolls are felt by the people in general, she added.

"I pray that the time comes for Harapan to win this year... Inshallah (God willing)," she said to the cheering crowd.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman Ramli, a representative for the Felda settlers, urged Harapan to form a royal commission of inquiry to probe the Felda land scandal, especially when Felda was under its former chairperson Isa Samad from 2011 to 2017.

Harapan also presented its policies, which included reforming the MACC by giving it prosecutorial powers as well as improving political funding by capping political donations ar RM200,000 a year.

Additionally, the party's asset will be audited by the auditor-general and made known to the public.

It will also implement online open tenders for which the outcomes can be accessed by the public.

High-ranking government officials, GLC officials and people's representatives will be asked to declare their assets.

Harapan also pledged to grant autonomy to Sabah and Sarawak, together with 20 percent oil royalty and five percent revenue sharing.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that a minor commotion occurred outside the hall when a group of people attempted to enter the convention hall.

"About five or six people tried to enter the hall, but they did not possess the delegate pass and they shouted the 'reformasi' slogan outside the hall," said a security personnel who declined to be named.

The security team then checked the passes of the delegates and media personnel inside the hall.- Mkini