KUALA LIPIS: With less than 24 hours to go before polling day in the Cameron Highlands by-election, the candidates are making the final push to convince voters that they are the right choice.
As for Pakatan Harapan (PH), more of its top leaders “attacked” the ground to make the case for their candidate M Manogaran of the DAP.
In this final phase of the campaign, their focus is the Jelai state constituency, which has been a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail its assemblyman.
Among the PH leaders seen making their final push were DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and Prime Minister and PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who came to Felda Sungai Koyan to meet voters at around noon.
Besides the Felda settlers, Dr Mahathir was also given a grand welcome by the Orang Asli community there.
Good weather enabled the world’s oldest elected leader, at age 93, to speak for about 30 minutes, with applause after applause from the audience.
The Prime Minister impressed upon the crowd why they should pick the PH candidate.
Meanwhile, Lim, in his speech, urged the voters to back Manahoran as the latter would bring much needed change.
“Give our candidate a chance, if we don’t deliver, you can kick us out in the next election. That is our promise. No matter what, give us the chance to administer and time to develop the country,” he said.
Manogaran in urging the Sungai Koyan and Orang Asli voters pledged to deliver on their needs as soon as possible.
“Many have asked me what I will do after I win. I replied that we will open PH service centres in Jelai and Tanah Rata to serve the people.
“I will also take up the issue of foreign workers (in the highlands) and hear out the problems of the residents and tok batin (headmen of Orang Asli settlements). I will also knock on the door of the Finance Minister to get allocations for the development agenda,” he said.
He asked the voters to come out in full force today and give the mandate to him to look after their welfare.
The by-election is a four-cornered contest among Manogaran, Ramli Mohd Nor of Barisan Nasional (BN) and two independents, former Aminuddin Baki Institute lecturer Sallehudin Ab Talib and farmer Wong Seng Yee.
It is being held after the Election Court on Nov 30 last year annulled the victory of
Datuk C Sivarraajh of the BN in the 14th General Election due to vote-buying. – Bernama
