Besides the PH chairman and Putrajaya candidate Samsu Adabi Mamat, others slated to speak tonight are DAP’s Hannah Yeoh and Anthony Loke, and surprise crowd-puller, Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz — the eldest son of the late PAS’ Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
Some of those who attended the ceramah were mostly from the after-work civil service crowd with their office attire, leading to a surreal carnival-like atmosphere. Only a few could be seen clad in PH attire or accessories.
While waiting, they could be heard chanting “reformasi”, the rallying cry started by supporters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was Dr Mahathir’s former deputy and who was sacked from the government in 1997.
Those very same supporters went on to form Keadilan which later merged with Parti Rakyat Malaysia and is today known as PKR, one of the four parties in the unregistered PH alliance that is now allied to Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
However, part of the crowd polled by Malay Mail revealed that they had arrived from other neighbouring areas such as Serdang, Sri Kembangan, Sentul and Kajang — just to catch a glimpse of the former prime minister.
When Dr Mahathir finally appeared, he was visibly taken aback by the size of the crowd.
“I’m shocked to see such a huge crowd. I had initially thought the people of Putrajaya were scared. But I’m wrong.
“I hope all of you here came here with a sense of responsibility to save Putrajaya,” he told the crowd that greeted him with a thunderous applause.
Dr Mahathir said he hoped that on May 9, the voters would come out in large numbers to cast their ballot.
“Our mission is not just to win but to win with a big majority. To show how united we are.
“Be brave, like how you are tonight and come out again with your entire family, friends, and neighbours to vote,” he said.
Dr Mahathir once again reminded and promised voters that if PH becomes the ruling government, the prime minister will be only given two terms to carry out his duty.
“Under Pakatan we will not allow for a prime minister to hold the position for more than two terms,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also said there was no reason for the authorities’ instructions to tear down posters and banners with pictures of him.
“It was just a picture and would not have done any harm,” he said.
MEANWHILE, ACCORDING TO MALAYSIAKINI:
When Nik Omar took the stage, shouts of “Allahu Akbar” were heard.
Nik Omar, in his speech, spoke how his late father had wanted to see the late former DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, even though he was ill.
“He was weak and had a fever, but still he wanted to see Karpal Singh,” he said.
Nik Omar said this was a reflection of his father’s belief that Muslims and non-Muslims should be treated well in a multi-racial country.
Mahathir, in his speech, spoke about the country’s mounting debt.
“If we get Najib, we’re going to squeeze him for all the money… RM2.6 billion in his account. When asked where he got it, he said it was an Arab donation.
“Which Arab is crazy enough to that? Even Bill Gates has not given that much,” Mahathir said.
DAP’s Segambut candidate Hannah Yeoh also made an emotional appeal for civil servants to back Harapan, telling the story of her teacher who had campaigned for her 10 years ago.
“Because my teacher chose change 10 years ago… because of his courage (to campaign for me) he contributed to putting the first woman speaker in the Selangor state assembly.
“So I urge civil servants to support Harapan. They (the government) cannot take action against you as on May 9, we will have a new government that will act fairly,” Yeoh said.
Huge crowd at Putrajaya for Dr M, Nik Omar double-whammy
Following a downpour earlier today, the field is soggy and muddy at a Pakatan Harapan rally besides the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque car-park.
This, however, does not deter a huge crowd of about 3,500 comprising the various races to gather here.
Anticipation is running high as tonight’s ceramah will feature Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ‘rebel’ Nik Omar Nik Aziz who has defected from PAS.
Ceramah attendee Tay, 63, took a drive all the way from his home in Puchong to attend his first rally in this election.
A former government servant himself, he is looking forward to seeing the Pakatan Harapan chairperson on stage tonight.
“I’ve been voting since my twenties. I’m here to see Dr Mahathir,” he said.
“Times are really bad now compared to the times when I was still in the (civil) service.”
When asked about what he is expecting to see in this election, he said simply, “Hope.”
Civil servants show up at Harapan rally in Putrajaya
A mixed crowd with roughly 80 percent Malay attendees were present at a Harapan ceramah tonight, which was held at a car park beside Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque.
The key speakers tonight are Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Amanah’s Chempaka state seat candidate Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz.
While some of the people are provided with chairs, most people have to stand.
The majority of the audience seem to be from the Klang Valley and Negeri Sembilan, with one family coming all the way from Perak for the ceramah here tonight.
“My eldest son works at Putrajaya Corporation, so we arrived here to stay at his house in Putrajaya,” says a middle-aged woman.
Together with her is her second son, who works as a police officer.
Yusof, an immigration officer based in Putrajaya, says public officers will be in trouble if they are caught appearing at opposition events.
“But I just don’t care anymore, I am going to retire next year,” he says.
Comparing Mahathir’s premiership with that of caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, he says the civil servants back in the 1980s and 1990s were not burdened by cost of living and goods and services tax (GST).
“Also, the petrol price was not expensive (then), Mahathir had it under control,” he adds.
“During Mahathir’s era, salaries were low, but then everything was cheap. Now, the price are tenfold higher,” he says.
Thus, he says he will go back to Malacca to vote and support the opposition in Tangga Batu, just like in the past polls.
Meanwhile, Amir, an employee of Putrajaya Corporation and a PKR member, says he will continue to support the opposition.
Mohd, 39, an Education Ministry officer, says he used to vote for PAS, but decided to swing to Harapan this time.
“I come for both Mahathir and Nik Omar. I have only seen video of Nik Omar in social media, but I want to listen to him myself,” says Mohd.
“I voted twice for PAS, but PAS has become a party that is unable to integrate the different views of other groups in society, and is unable to agree or disagree,” says the Seri Serdang voter.
The government is unable to control inflation, and he has to work part-time as a Grab driver to earn a total salary of RM4,000.
Another voter in Putrajaya, Mohd Zainun, a 28-year-old teacher in religious school, has decided to vote for Harapan.
“I am a first-time voter and I will vote for Harapan in Putrajaya,” he says.
“The government now only take care of cronies. Besides that, there is still GST and floating petrol prices,” he says.
Meanwhile, Khoo, a 50-year-old businessperson, says he wants to hear what Nik Omar has to say.
“I live in Klang Valley and I never missed the opportunity to vote in the past,” he says. – MKINI
ACCORDING TO FMT:
Thousands in Putrajaya for Pakatan Harapan ceramah
The speakers include Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Nik Omar Nik Aziz, the son of the late PAS spiritual leader, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. – FMT
Dr M leaves for Putrajaya
Dr Mahathir Mohamad has left the ceramah in Kerinchi after delivering a 12-minute speech to a crowd of around 1,000 people.
The former PM, accompanied by his wife Dr Siti Hasmah, will now head to Putrajaya for the next ceramah with Nik Omar Nik Aziz, the son of the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. – FMT
ACCORDING TO MALAYSIAKINI:
‘I might be arrested soon’ – Mahathir forewarns Lembah Pantai
10.30pm: PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur-Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad takes the stage almost immediately after arriving on the scene, around 9.15pm.
He thanks the 1,500 before him for coming on their own accord tonight, unlike “their events” where people are bused in and given free food to attend.
“I might be arrested soon,” he says, referring to how he is being probed under the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 for previously claiming his private plane could have been sabotaged.
“But it is (Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi, caretaker deputy prime minister) who is spreading fake news, he says I will be hospitalised right before the election to get more votes.
“But I don’t think I need to go into hospital to get votes,” he says, to loud cheers from a captive audience.
As always, Mahathir fires salvos at caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, and urges the audience to reject “parti bulan” (the moon party, referring to PAS).
He cracks up the crowd when he mistakenly calls on the crowd to vote for candidates from “Barisan” before realising his slip of the tongue and laughing about it.
“Sometimes I fall back to my old habits.
“You know I used to be the Umno president? Now I am trying to bring down Umno.
“This is because Umno is not Umno anymore, it is Najib’s party,” he says.
The night’s event is held at a futsal court surrounded by low-cost flats, and many families have come down from their units to listen to what the former premier has to say.
Lembah Pantai folks mob Mahathir as he arrives
9.00pm PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, KL – The crowd swarms around Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he arrives for his first ceramah in Lembah Pantai since the GE14 campaign began.
The emcee struggles to control the crowd as people young and old rush towards Mahathir, delaying his approach to the stage.
He is accompanied by his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and Harapan-PKR’s Lembah Pantai candidate Fahmi Fadzil. Shouts of “Hidup Tun” ring out.
The crowd at this point has swelled to at least 1,000, and everyone is craning their necks and raising their mobile phones to get a glimpse and a picture of Harapan’s PM designate.
‘Get rid of the bloody GST!’
8:30pm – PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai, KL – More than 500 people have gathered at a futsal court here awaiting Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s arrival.
He, along with Harapan-PKR’s Lembah Pantai candidiate Fahmi Fadzil, are slated to address the crowd tonight.
Scientist and university lecturer Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz arrives in a wheelchair and says she hopes Harapan wins this the 14th general election.
“He (Mahathir) bloody well better win this election, that’s all I’m saying. We’ve had enough of this nonsense. I am a disabled person and things like this (pointing to her wheelchair) should not have GST. They claim items like this are GST-free but they are not!
“And I work so I can pay for this but what about other people? I hope they get rid of the bloody GST,” she tells Malaysiakini.
MALAY MAIL / Mkini /FMT
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