CAMERON POLLS DAY 9 | The Cameron Highlands by-election continues with the ninth day of campaigning today.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the campaigning on the ground.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- First ever Hadi-Mat Hasan ceramah attracts 1,000
- Felda town abuzz awaiting ustad showdown
- If Harapan used govt vehicle, we will stop - Mano
- Chef Wan wants to slap Najib
- Harapan to hold mega ceramah on Jan 23
- Local boy Chef Wan, Azmin cook up seafood penne
- Najib asks if gov't 4WD used on campaign trail
- KJ tells Harapan not to leave Cameron behind
- Police report lodged against Lokman
- More party big guns hitting the campaign trail
11.59pm: This concludes our live coverage today of the Cameron Highlands by-election campaign. Follow our live blog again for the tenth day of campaigning tomorrow.
First ever Hadi-Mat Hasan ceramah attracts 1,000
11pm: Felda Sungai Koyan 1, Jelai - At least 1,000 people gather to hear the first ever joint ceramah by Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
The emcee estimates the crowd to be at least 5,000.
After an introductory speech by Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Mohamad tells the audience to translate their dissatisfaction of the Pakatan Harapan government by voting for BN candidate Ramli Mohd Nor.
Hadi’s speech is the highlight of the night.
The Marang MP rallies the crowd, which includes many PAS supporters, to set aside their differences with other Muslims and unite to elect a Muslim leader.
Felda town abuzz awaiting ustad showdown
9pm: Felda Sungai Koyan 1, Jelai - It is an exceptionally busy Sunday night for this sleepy Felda town.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan (photo) are slated to speak at a “Pentas Perdana” event.
BN candidate Ramli Mohd Nor and Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail are also expected to address the BN stronghold.
Just across the road less than a minute walk away, Pakatan Harapan has set up a large screen and stage for two scions of former PAS presidents.
Preacher Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, son of Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Nat, along with the son of Fadzil Mohd Nor, Fauwaz Fadzil Noor, are expected to canvass for Harapan’s M Manogaran.
Anticipating a large crowd, durian seller Hisham Ghazali has set up a second stall near the BN-PAS stage.
“I usually have only one shop, but tonight I opened a second one,” he tells Malaysiakini.
If Harapan used gov't vehicle, we will stop - Mano
6:30pm: Felda Sungai Koyan 1, Jelai - In light of allegations that a Pakatan Harapan deputy minister has been campaigning using a government vehicle, the coalition’s candidate M Manogaran insists he is against such practices.
“If it was proven (that the vehicle was used), we will stop.
“Sometimes this kind of things may happen [...] If we have done wrong we will correct it,” he tells the media after campaigning here.
He adds that he is still determining facts of the case.
Former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak earlier posted an image of a black four-wheel drive vehicle with "PHD Raub" written across the back and with the Harapan flag on its sides.
The Pahang government has since confirmed that it is a state Forestry Department vehicle that was loaned for “official use” by a deputy minister.
Chef Wan wants to slap Najib
6pm: Sungai Koyan 1, Jelai - Celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail (photo), popularly known as Chef Wan, is upset over former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s recent visit to his village.
He is particularly enraged over Najib saying that Felda settlers lived a better life under BN as they were given bonuses and high salaries.
“I tampar muka Najib tu, kurang ajar! (I would slap Najib’s face, such disrespect!)"
“What do I worry? It was our tax money (that he distributed), tell him that,” the chef tells the media after campaigning for Pakatan Harapan here.
He adds that settlers owe nothing to Najib’s administration as they worked on their Felda land themselves.
Harapan to hold mega ceramah on Jan 23
5.45pm: Pakatan Harapan announces that there will be a mega ceramah in Cameron Highlands on Wednesday (Jan 23), featuring top leaders from the ruling coalition.
"We have confirmed the attendance and speech from PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that night.
"Aside from those ceramah, we are also going to have speeches from national Harapan leaders, Lim Kit Siang and Teo Nie Ching," said DAP Youth vice-chief Jenny Choy Tsi Jen in a statement today.
The ceramah, which will be held at the parking lot of the Cameron Highlands local council starting 7pm, is on the same night as the candidates' debate, which is organised by electoral watchdog Bersih.
All the candidates except BN's Ramli Mohd Nor will participate in the debate, which will be telecast live at 9pm from the Heritage Hotel in Tanah Rata.
Local boy Chef Wan, Azmin cook for Felda folk
3:30pm: Felda Sungai Koyan 1 - PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali arrives on a motorcycle to join Chef Wan – who hails from the village – in a cooking demonstration.
Chef Wan, whose full name is Redzuawan Ismail, then makes seafood rice stew using olive oil and prawns.
“This is a recipe from Italy,” he says while sharing his experience growing up in Felda Sungai Koyan 1.
About 60 people, mainly women, gather to watch the demonstration.
Najib asks if gov't 4WD used on campaign trail
1pm: Taking to Facebook, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak mocks Pakatan Harapan over the alleged use of a government vehicle on the campaign trail.
Najib uploads a photograph of a four-wheel drive vehicle with "PHD Raub" written across the back, and with the Harapan logo on its sides.
He also includes a screenshot of the Election Commission's Election Code of Ethics, pointing out that government vehicles cannot be used for campaign purposes.
"Does this vehicle belong to the Forestry Department?
"What model is this? It looks OK, I might test drive one myself. Driving a 4x4 feels a bit different, right?" reads his posting, which has garnered over a thousand likes in under three hours.
KJ tells Harapan not to leave Cameron behind
12.45pm: Brinchang - Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin visits Kampung Sungai Ruil here after stopping over in Habu Heights.
Before having lunch with the Orang Asli community, the former Umno Youth chief says that in New Malaysia, Pakatan Harapan must ensure that those who do not vote for the ruling coalition are not punished.
“If Cameron Highlands voters still choose BN, then Harapan must show that this is New Malaysia, and development will take place according to the community's needs."
Khairy also expressed his belief that development would not be stalled as Pahang is under BN rule, with the state government able to sort out constituents' land woes.
When asked on the collaboration between Umno and PAS for the polls, meanwhile, Khairy says that public acceptance would not be an issue.
“This can be seen as tactical cooperation between the two parties. This is not an alliance, but tactical cooperation for the by-election."
Police report lodged against Lokman
12pm: Sungai Koyan - Arvind Bharet, the assistant to the Jelai Pakatan Harapan Operations chief, lodged a police report yesterday against Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam.
The report was lodged over a Jan 18 speech by Lokman, in which he alleged that Harapan was aiming to prevent 2,000 Orang Asli voters from casting their ballots in the by-election.
"We in Harapan take this allegation seriously because we would in no way encourage such practices.
"This allegation will also tarnish Harapan's image and is slanderous.
"I want the police and the Election Commission to take the appropriate steps to investigate this allegation, and take action against Lokman," his report read.
More party big guns hitting the campaign trail
11.44am: More party leaders are descending on Cameron Highlands today, including Khairy Jamaluddin, who will be in Tanah Rata and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who will be joining BN in a ceramah in Sungai Koyan tonight.
The ceramah will also feature top BN leaders such as Mohamad Hasan, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and the candidate himself Ramli Mohd Nor.
Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan has roped in celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan, for a cooking demonstration along with PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Other Harapan leaders scheduled to make an appearance on the campaign trail today include Amanah strategic communication director Dzulkefly Ahmad, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong.
10.40am: Pasar Pagi Tanah Rata - BN vote canvassers are doing their rounds at the local morning market here when they bump into DAP’s candidate M Manogaran (photo) and his team.
The two groups are cordial and friendly to each other, stopping to take pictures together.
One of the BN canvassers jokingly asks Manogaran where he is voting.
“Pos Sinderut,” Manogaran quips, referring to an Orang Asli settlement in Cameron Highlands.
One of BN's main campaign message has been that their candidate Ramli Mohd Nor is a local to Cameron Highlands.
