GE14 LIVE DAY 10 | It's Day 10 of the 14th general election campaign period, and there are just three days to go before polling day.
Follow our live blog as the Malaysiakini team brings you the news as it takes place.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Muhyiddin denies selling Johor land to Singapore
- Rafizi gets wild reception in Johor Bahru
- Dr M worried candidates might be bought over
- Former Wanita Umno leader speaks at PAS ceramah
- Arul Kanda tells 'tough' Bangsar crowd he’s not defending Najib
- Muar dialogue called off, official cites 'public safety'
- Phantom voters haunting Klang, says incumbent
- Amanah to moot RCI on Memali misinformation
- Najib not coming to Johor before polling day
- International election observers arrive today
11.59pm: Thank you for following our live updates for Day 10 of the campaigning period in the lead up to the May 9 polls. Follow us again tomorrow for Day 11.
Muhyiddin denies selling Johor land to Singapore
11.30pm Ledang, Johor - Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin denies allegations that he sold off Johor land to Singapore when he served as menteri besar.
In a ceramah in Gambir, Muhyiddin says that when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister, he had summoned him to a meeting with then-Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who wanted Johor to fulfil an 1961 agreement to supply the country with water.
"Lee said 'if Johor doesn't give water to Singapore, we will go to war.' I saw that he looked serious, but he could just be fibbing," he says.
He says after negotiations they settled on building a dam in Linggi, adding that Singapore compensated the Johor state government with RM320 million for the land.
They also paid for the dam's construction, before handing over the completed facility back to Johor.
He states that the RM320 million was used to set up the Johor Heritage Trust Fund.
Mahathir has denied that Lee threatened war over the water deal.
Tony Pua is a hypocrite, says Arul Kanda
11.25pm: Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur - 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy brands DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua a “hypocrite” for making videos scandalising the government investment firm, but not of caretaker Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s purchase of a bungalow.
The bungalow purchase is part of an ongoing lawsuit.
Arul says while he enjoyed Pua’s videos, he disputed the source from which its contents were based.
“The reality is when you look at the content, where did Pua get the content for these videos?
“The content is from the US Department of Justice civil lawsuit... that lawsuit has yet to go to court, there has yet been a trial, a defence or a court decision.
“He (Pua) has not made a video of another case that is in court - Lim Guan Eng’s bungalow scandal.
“Tony Pua is a hypocrite,” he says in a press conference after the 1MDB ‘You Ask, We Answer’ session, where members of the 500 or so audience grilled him for over two hours.
'Reject BN for racial polarisation'
11.20pm: Sungai Acheh, Penang - In PKR's fifth political rally in the fishing village of Sungai Udang, PKR Sungai Acheh candidate Zulkifli Ibrahim urges voters not to choose BN's Mahmud Zakaria as he is from a "racist party" that has polarised Malaysia along ethnic lines.
The sourthernmost state seat, whose constituents are mostly fisherfolk, has never left BN's grasp.
Another speaker, Bukit Tambun DAP chief Teoh Seang Hooi, praises Zulkifli for sending his three children to Chinese primary school.
"This shows that Zulkifli is truly a multicultural politician.
"Please reject the BN candidate as the major component parties of BN are basically monoethnic in nature," Teoh says to a crowd of 1,200.
Rafizi gets wild reception in Johor Bahru
11.15pm: Larkin, Johor Bahru - The first appearance of PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli in the parliamentary seat of Johor Bahru during the campaign period attracts a crowd of 3,000 to Dataran Larkin.
Singing ‘Negaraku’ while waiting for him to make his appearance, the Malay-majority crowd breaks into applause when he arrives.
In his speech, Rafizi pokes fun at caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who said today that the crowds at opposition ceramah are mostly DAP supporters.
"You see, is there a Chinese crowd who wear tudung now? Najib could not have imagined that the people would rise,” he says.
Dataran Larkin is located near to the umah Pangsa Larkin, Larkin Jaya and Larkin polling districts, all of which are primarily Malay in composition.
In the last polls, BN won the Tanjung Puteri state seat (now Larkin) by 9,097 votes, while Umno veteran Shahrir Abdul Samad won Johor Bahru by 10,134.
Rais makes debut speech for Harapan in Jelebu
11.05pm: Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan - Former minister Rais Yatim delivers his first speech at a Pakatan Harapan ceramah in Jelebu.
Addressing more than 300 people at Kampung Batu Serambai, Rais connects with the local crowd with his Negeri Sembilan accent.
He immediately goes on the offensive over the GST.
"This songkok that I bought in Kuala Lumpur was also charged GST... so do were these shoes, t-shirt and if I were to say underpants, you will be embarassed," he said as the crowd laughed.
Prior to that, singer Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin also helped with the campaign and sang her trademark song "Janji manismu" (Your sweet promise).
Yesterday, Rais turned up at a Harapan ceramah in Titi, but did not speak.
Dr M worried candidates might be bought over
11pm: Langkawi, Kedah – Harapan candidate for Langkawi, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, says he is worried about BN buying over their candidates if the opposition coalition fails to win GE14.
At a ceramah there, Mahathir then wheels out candidates for Kuah and Ayer Hangat, Firdaus Ahmad and Johari Bulat, and asks them onstage if they are willing to jump ship if offered money.
“They will try to buy our candidates. These candidates here, they haven’t even contested, and I am scared that if they win, they will be offered RM10 million. Would you take it?” he asks Firdaus and Johari. Both shake their heads.
He then raises the figure to RM20 million and asks the same question. They shake their heads again, eliciting laughter from the crowd of about 3,000.
Mahathir then concludes that money cannot buy dignity, and that anyone who tries to do so will be looked upon in shame.
“Money cannot buy dignity, people want to preserve their dignity and they wouldn’t just sell it for money.
“If they did, the community would look down on them because they have sold out.
“This is why we need to focus on defeating Najib,” he says.
Former Umno rep stumps for Harapan in Tasek Gelugor
11pm: Tasek Gelugor, Penang - About 2,000 people brave the rain in an Umno stronghold to hear Pakatan Harapan leaders speak just two days until the country goes to the polls.
The ceramah is held in an open space next to Bersatu's Permatang Berangan candidate Shariff Omar's residence in Air Melintas.
Many are surprised to see one-term former Umno Sungai Dua assemblyperson Jasmin Mohamed onstage as emcee for the night, chanting "Pakatan Harapan," as he was a fierce critic of the then-Pakatan Rakyat administration in the state assembly in 2008.
Many stand under their umbrellas, and patiently listen to speeches by candidates, including Shariff Yusri Isahak (Sungai Dua), and Marzuki Yahya (Tasek Gelugor).
The crowd cheers heartily when caretaker chief minister Lim Guan Eng – who has been on a whirlwind tour from Butterworth in the morning to Alor Setar, to Valdor village in Juru and finally Air Melintas – arrives.
The sleepy town is roused by the din of vuvuzelas and loud applause from the crowd.
"Although this is an Umno stronghold, I am confident, I believe and I am sure we can form a government come May 9," he says to loud cheers.
Kamilia pins high cost of living on Umno, calls Harapan 'confused'
10.40pm: Sungai Buloh, Selangor - Former Wanita Umno deputy chief Kamilia Ibrahim reveals she left the party as it did not give women enough opportunities to assist in the development of the country, in terms of representation in Parliament and state assemblies.
This is unlike PAS, she insists, with almost 40 percent of its GE14 candidates being women.
Clad in PAS colours, she says BN has been given a long time to rule the country and it is time to change.
Kamilia pins the high cost of living on Umno, and says that the party has deviated from its path – which has resulted in her old bosses, like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Daim Zainuddin and her long-time Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz leaving.
"So why should we return Umno to power?” she asks the crowd.
Pakatan Harapan is not spared, as Kamilia says the "confused coalition" has no vision, and that they are only bent on removing Najib.
She believes that PAS can rule the country based on Islamic principles rooted in the Quran.
"We must change to avoid corruption, and change the corrupt leaders by bringing up those who adhere to Islam.”
Speaking at the same ceramah, PAS candidate for Sungai Buloh Nuridah Mohd Salleh says that if the party is given the opportunity to govern the state, the poor will be fed nutritious food so that they will not be left behind in the country’s development.
"We will try to improve the welfare of the people, as studies show that children living in low cost flats are malnourished," she says.
Nuridah, who is also Muslimat chief, points to the PAS-led Kelantan as an example of the people’s welfare being taken care of.
The crowd has now increased to 700, as spectators are entertained by popular nasyid group Hijaz.
Former Wanita Umno leader speaks at PAS ceramah
10pm: Sungai Buloh, Selangor – A crowd of 500 gathers at a pasar malam in Paya Jaras for a PAS ceramah that features, among others, former Wanita Umno deputy chief Kamilia Ibrahim.
She tells the crowd that she has been accepted as a PAS member.
Kamilia made her exit from Umno before the last polls to contest Kuala Kangsar as an independent.
Arul Kanda tells 'tough' Bangsar crowd he’s not defending Najib
9:00pm: Lucky Garden, Bangsar - A diverse crowd of about 300 people have gathered under large tents to listen to what 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy has to say about the state investment fund.
As he takes the stage, Arul Kanda says he has not come to argue, nor to defend caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and businessman Low Taek Jho.
He is then heckled by the crowd. People shout “Unbelievable!” and “Really?” Some break out in laughter.
Arul Kanda continues with his presentation, but is interrupted multiple times by more heckling from the audience.
“Wow, tough crowd tonight,” he says.
Prizes for voters in Tanjung Malim BN lucky draw
8.30pm: Slim, Perak - A big concert featuring a lucky draw is held tonight in Tanjung Malim, which attracts a crowd of about 500.
The organiser of ‘Konsert Gegar Tanjung Malim’, Majlis Belia Malaysia, gives everyone who enters the field a lucky draw ticket with a picture of BN Slim candidate Khusairi Abdul Talib, along with the dacing (scales) logo next to a large ‘X’.
The big prizes for tonight are two motorcycles, LCD TVs, sewing machines and electrical goods.
On the large, colourfully-lit stage is a screen displaying the words "Perak Negeriku, BN pilihanku" (Perak is my state, BN is my choice), and "Datuk Khusairi Talib N58 Slim."
While waiting for Khusairi and other VIPs to arrive, the host asks the crowds to say "pilihanku" every time he shouts out “BN.”
The host urges the crowd to throw their support behind Tanjung Malim candidate Mah Hang Soon and those of the three state seats under the parliamentary constituency – Khusairi for Slim, Rusnah Kassim for Behrang and V Elango for Sungkai.
Shafie laughs off ‘not Sabahan enough’ claim
6pm: Semporna, Sabah - Despite some critics claiming that Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal is more ‘Malay’, the former Umno vice-president assures voters that he is still very much a Bajau.
During two programmes at separate villages in Bum-Bum Island today, Shafie gives his speeches in Bajau, save for a few sentences in Bahasa Malaysia.
Both programmes draw hundreds of people, with those in attendance listening attentively and laughing each time Shafie makes jokes in his usual understated fashion.
At the second function, despite a disturbance when the microphone failed to work and Shafie had to rely to amplifying his voice to address the crowd, they still listened with rapt attention.
As a voter points out, locals are more appreciative and attentive whenever they are addressed by Sabahan politicians in their respective native tongues.
Shafie in his speech also cites caretaker foreign minister Anifah Aman, who reportedly said that people in the state should choose only "genuine" Sabahans to become chief minister – implying that the Warisan chief isn't one.
"But the Bajau, Dusun, Murut are ethnic groups included in the Sabah enactment.
"He (Anifah) insulted me, but it's fine, I know that the people of Semporna know who they want to vote for," says Shafie.
Azmin mobbed in Malacca
6.30pm: Hang Tuah Jaya, Malacca - Caretaker Selangor menteri besar Mohamed Azmin Ali speaks to a crowd of about 150 people at a ceramah kelompok at Kampung Solok Baroh.
He tells them about the various initiatives the Selangor government has implemented for the rakyat’s benefit since the federal opposition took over.
“People in Selangor do not pay a single sen for their water.
“On their water bill, it is written, paid for by the Selangor government. What does Malacca have?” Azmin says to the crowd, some of who yell back, “Nothing.”
He also tells them about tax-exempt low-cost houses in rural areas of Selangor, as well as free buses and healthcare programs in Selangor.
“Does Malacca have this?” he would ask after each example. When the crowd says no, he would say sarcastically, “Serves you right,” to a laughing crowd.
When Azmin arrived at the ceramah kelompok earlier, most of the crowd rushed towards him to greet him and take pictures with him.
Muar dialogue called off, official cites 'public safety'
6.15pm: Muar, Johor - A closed door "casual dialogue" between incumbent Muar MP Razali Ibrahim and Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, that was supposed to be live streamed, has been called off.
Muar district officer Onn Jabbar, who Razali yesterday said would host the session, says after discussions with the candidates and their representatives that safety and public order would be prioritised instead.
When asked at a press conference how a closed door dialogue would pose a security threat, Onn replies saying that he had advised Razali and Syed Saddiq to focus on their campaigns and drop the whole debate discussion.
When met after the press conference, Razali declined to comment.
Saddiq subsequently released a video saying he is still prepared to debate Razali at any time.
‘BN can sweep Sabah with a show of solidarity’
5.30pm: Kota Marudu, Sabah – BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak states that the coalition can retain Sabah with a show of solidarity by all component parties.
He urges the BN machinery in the state to work hard to achieve a clean sweep in Wednesday’s polls.
"This morning I made a visit to Keningau, before meeting the people in Beaufort and later with the people in Kota Marudu. I saw a very encouraging and conducive atmosphere... this is a positive sign for BN.
“So I don’t see any reason that BN cannot win on the condition all the component parties jointly support whoever are contesting as candidates, because they are BN candidates.
“There is a place for PBS candidates, a place for Umno candidates and also places for other parties. Most importantly BN must win and form the government,” he is quoted as saying by Bernama.
Najib also reiterates his comment on Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad caring little for the state.
"Dr Mahathir did not visit Sabah because he did not get support in Sabah... this is because of his track record of 22 years, Sabahans will not forget. He forgot but the people of Sabah will not forget,” he says.
Case of cop not being allowed to vote to be referred to EC, DPP
5pm: Tawau, Sabah - Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun says the case of the police officer not allowed to cast his ballot during early voting on May 5 will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor or the Election Commission.
According to Bernama, Fuzi also states that a probe had been opened into the case.
“Investigation is being conducted by my officers in Bukit Aman,” he is quoted as saying.
The police officer claimed that EC officials had barred him from voting as their records showed that he had already done so – although he showed them his unstained left index finger.
Pulau Tuba will be developed if we win, Dr M tells Langkawi
2.15pm: Pulau Tuba, Langkawi - Harapan candidate for Langkawi, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, assured that the 17 square-kilometre Pulau Tuba will be developed like other towns if Harapan wins in this Wednesday's polls.
He said he will stress on aspects of education, health and skills on the island folk, so that they can improve their incomes.
"The people of Langkawi have their own cement factories, others don't have it, so we will use the cement to build houses to the people of the island, so that they can live as comfortable as those in Alor Setar, Sungai Petani and others.
"It will take some time to catch up to Kuala Lumpur. We cannot have LRT, MRT, but we will have better connectivity, our children will be given scholarships to be trained to become doctors, lawyers, and engineers," the Harapan chairperson said during the Kenduri Rakyat event today.
Pulau Tuba, which is located south of Langkawi, is home to 5,000 people, of which 1,900 are registered voters.
DAP's Syerleena cries foul over more banners calling her anti-Islam
2pm: Seri Delima, Penang - DAP's Seri Delima candidate Syerleena Abdul Rashid holds a press conference at DAP's Bukit Gelugor operations centre, to denounce repeated claims she is anti-Islam.
She is responding to a fresh lot of banners that are "racist" and touch on religious sensitivities, targeted at her.
As the first DAP Malay woman fielded by the party in this election, Syerleena had been attacked by her opponents even before nomination on April 28.
"One of the posters were taken from the malicious slander against me that I had attacked Jakim, which is a lie," Syerleena says.
"I was accused of plotting to change the religion of the federation from Islam to Christianity, which is absurd.
"I have lodged four police reports, but such dirty political tactics continue," she says.
Accompanying Syerleena at the event is Bukit Gelugor candidate Ramkarpal Singh.
Phantom voters haunting Klang, says incumbent
1.40pm: Klang, Selangor - Harapan candidate for Klang, Charles Santiago, alleges there are numerous instances of phantom voters in his constituency's electoral roll.
“The voter roll in Klang appears to be tainted with phantom voters,” he says in a statement today.
These include numerous voters registered at a single address non-existent addresses, as well as voters whose IC numbers appear in the Sabah royal commission of inquiry's list of illegal voters.
“Over 500 new voters have been registered in Kampung Idaman, Pandamaran Jaya and Telok Gong. Many of these voters have been transferred in from as far as Malacca, Perak and Sabah,” claims Santiago, the incumbent Klang MP.
The main telltale signs, he says, are:
- Multiple voters at the same address
- Addresses where houses are too small to possibly accommodate the number of people registered as voters there
- Houses or roads that appear to be nonexistent
He cites several examples:
- 27 voters registered in 26, Jln 5, Kampung Idaman
- 26 registered in 21, Jln 8A
- 25 registered in 6, Jln 1
- No 28, Jln 79 has 10 voters registered in a span of 6 months
- There does not appear to be a No 26, Jln 6 (where all the houses are odd-numbered)
- There does not appear to be a Jln 8 in Pandamaran Jaya.
He says these instances are concentrated in the Pelabuhan Klang state seat, which has now become a marginal seat after the redelineation.
“Last elections, we highlighted the case of 994, Jalan Papan with 34 Indian and Malay voters in a Chinese home, and this has not been rectified till now.
“On top and above this, there are 495 voters whose IC numbers are in the Sabah Project IC royal commission of inquiry list, who are also in the Klang voter roll,” he adds.
Santiago says these are just several examples of suspected manipulation and cheating in the Klang voter roll, and says the EC “must bear full responsibility over this”.
'Johor has issued sufficient Paca passes'
Johor Baru: The Johor Election Commission has issued sufficient supply of polling and counting agent (Paca) passes for GE14, said its director Shafie Taib.
He said about 100,000 Paca passes have been provided for the agents representing 247 candidates who would be contesting for the state's parliamentary and state seats.
"Some people have complained that the EC had not issued adequate Paca passes. Perhaps there was a miscommunication when the passes were distributed or some parties have requested for additional passes.
"Please take note that one candidate is eligible to one pass per channel and we may give an additional pass during a change of shift," he said when met by reporters at the EC Office at Wisma Persekutuan here today.
Amanah to moot RCI on Memali misinformation
12.35pm: Shah Alam, Selangor - Amanah communications director Khalid Samad says his party will push for a Harapan-led federal government to set-up a royal commission of inquiry to establish the intelligence received by police officers during in the Memali incident of the 1980s.
"As far as Harapan is concerned, and particularly we from Amanah, the Memali incident must be investigated further.
"We believe that inaccurate information has been given to the security forces leading to such a large number of heavily armed personnel being deployed, as if they were cracking down on a communist stronghold," Khalid, who is defending his Shah Alam parliamentary seat tells reporters during a press conference at his office in Section 13.
At the same time, Khalid also says Amanah accepts Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's apology over the 92-year-old's "mati katak" (died in vain) remark in reference to those who had died in the clash between Memali villagers and the police.
"I view that maybe (Mahathir) had a slip of the tongue...he has also apologised so therefore we (Amanah) accept his apology," he says.
On Nov 19, 1985, villagers of Kampung Memali, Kedah clashed with police attempting to arrest PAS leader Ibrahim Mahmood, or Ibrahim Libya, on suspicion of heading a "deviant" sect and plotting to topple the government.
On another matter, Khalid says he has lodged a police report against two banners with his image and the caption 'Polis Malaysia Anjing' (Malaysian police are dogs) put up outside the Shah Alam district police station and Selangor police contingent headquarters on Saturday.
"I have asked the police to investigate, and I was informed the forensics team has taken fingerprints from the banners," says Khalid, who describes such tactics as "cheap politics" that intends to mislead Shah Alam voters.
12.30pm: Permatang Pauh, Penang - Candidates Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh), Norlela Ariffin (Penanti) and Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya) hold a press conference in Yayasan Aman.
Afif says the party is organising a grand finale ceramah at Tapak Expo Seberang Jaya on May 8, the eve of Wednesday's polling day, starting at 8pm.
"We will also be having a solat hajat (prayers to seek blessings for candidates), which is fixed at 7pm at the same venue," he says.
"Pakatan Harapan's chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad's final message for GE14 will also be telecast for all to see at the ceramah about 10pm," he adds.
Najib not coming to Johor before polling day
11am: Bakri, Johor - Umno president Najib Abdul Razak will not be coming to Johor.
Caretaker menteri besar Khaled Nordin shook his head and said no when asked if Najib will be coming to Johor to help BN campaign in before polling day on Wednesday. He did not explain why.
Najib was last in Johor on April 19.
Earlier Khaled handed over offer certificates for affordable housing in Taman Bakri Setia.
"If you want more affordable housing in Johor, vote for BN," he says in his speech.
International election observers arrive today
11am: KLIA, Sepang- International election observers from nine countries will be arriving in the country beginning today for the 14th general election this Wednesday.
The first group of observers to arrive is from the Maldives. Led by the chairman of the Election Commission of Maldives, Ahmed Shareef, the group arrived at KL International Airport (KLIA) at 7.20am today and was welcomed by a member of the Malaysian Election Commission, K Bala Singam.
The group of observers from Thailand is expected to arrive at 12.15pm today, followed by observers from Azerbaijan, at 3.30pm.
Prior to this, Malaysian Election Commission chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah said that the commission was inviting international election observers to look at the transparency of the election process in the country.
He said the invitation was extended to Azerbaijan, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Apart from that, the commission also appointed 1,236 election observers from 14 local non-governmental organisations.
