KUALA LUMPUR – A Pakatan Harapan (PH) ceramah headlined by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Desa Pandan here last night could have been mistaken for the open air concert of a major rock star.
Thousands of people thronged the streets in this Titiwangsa parliamentary seat to see in person the former prime minister of 22 years who is hoping to make a comeback but for the Opposition PH pact.
Roars of “Long live Tun”, “we love Tun”, and “we want Tun” could be heard across the expanse of the field where a makeshift stage for the ceramah had been erected, despite the heavy rainfall, when Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali arrived at about 10.20pm.
The 92-year-old who is contesting in Langkawi appeared overwhelmed by the crowd’s response.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t shake everyone’s hands as I walked towards the stage earlier. Unfortunately, I only have two hands, not six,” he said.
He asked them to translate their support to votes for PH on May 9.
“This is a money-cannot-buy support. Even if the other party pays their supporters to come to the talks, the attendance would not be as big as this,” he added.
Dr Mahathir then apologised for his leadership mistakes when he was heading the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and pleaded for the chance to correct them.
“I want to make things right again. That is why I am working so hard, with your help, to correct this mistake of mine,” he said in his speech.
Thousands of people thronged the streets of Desa Pandan to catch a glimpse of Tun Mahathir May 1, 2018. — Picture by Azneal Ishak
The PH talk last night is the first truly mega-sized ceramah in the city after the official campaigning period kicked off last Saturday.
The PH candidate for Titiwangsa Rina Harun is challenging the incumbent MP from BN Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and PAS’ Mohamad Noor Mohamad in a three-way contest.
However, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia women’s chief was backed by heavyweights last night, including her party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, incumbent Batu MP and PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu.
In her speech, Rina said she wants to improve the quality of education and socio-economic activities for Titiwangsa residents.
“I want to open up a service centre that can be visited by all Titiwangsa folks. I plan to install cubicles so children can come in to do their homework in quiet if they need to.
“I am looking at free tutoring sessions, on top of providing a facility similar to a library there.
“I plan to also have counselling days especially for women and possibly make free legal advice available at the service centre, if you help me win,” she said.
Though late to arrive at 11.05pm, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail showed up at the hot seat to lend support.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah arrives to lend support to the cause. — Picture by Azneal Ishak
She thanked the crowd for braving the rain to attend the ceramah on a public holiday to show their support towards PH.
“Today is Labour Day and you and I — we are all workers here. We work for our beloved country because we love Malaysia.
“Now it is time for us to translate that love into efforts to change the nation’s future. Play our parts, go out and vote for Pakatan,” she said to the crowd’s cheers.
– https://sg.news.yahoo.com
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