Day 1 Providing Bus Services An Offence Let Macc Decide Fahmi

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DAY 1 | Today marks the first day of the campaigning period for the six state elections. Candidates and their respective parties will have until midnight of Aug 11 to convince voters to cast their ballots for them.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Providing bus services an offence? Let MACC decide - Fahmi
‘I’m not worried’ - Sanusi on allegations against him
Handshakes and insults - Sanusi greets rival supporters
Fat Full explains why Chinese fielded in Sekinchan
Chow downplays internal dissent in DAP
Sivaranjani’s journey ‘exemplifies unwavering commitment’
4.35pm: Meru, Selangor - PSM's Sivaranjani Manickam shares how her life journey started in Klang, Selangor, where she was born and raised in a working-class family at a squatter settlement.
Decades later, now a lawyer, Sivaranjani says her experiences led her to be a staunch advocate for the implementation of minimum wage, tirelessly championing the cause until it was successfully gazetted into law in 2013.
PSM candidate Sivaranjani ManickamIn 2017, she led the charge in creating the Government Contract Workers Network, a milestone initiative that champions the rights of more than 300,000 government contract workers, including cleaners, gardeners, and security guards.
“Jani’s journey exemplifies unwavering commitment to empowerment and advocacy, making her an indomitable force in pursuing positive change,” read a PSM statement issued after nominations ended this morning.
Sivaranjani will contest in Meru.
Providing bus services an offence? Let MACC decide - Fahmi
3.55pm: Gombak, Selangor - Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil says he will leave it to the MACC to decide if providing bus services to voters is an election offence.
“We have received advice from the MACC chief commissioner who said there may be a need to avoid using buses rented by political parties to transport voters.
“So I leave it to the MACC, in case there is any need for further action to handle problems we do not want to happen,” Fahmi says.
Previously, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki advised against parties providing buses to voters as it could lead to a perception of corruption.
‘It’s like playing in the football finals’
12.30pm: Gurun, Kedah - After making his debut in the political field, PN’s Baddrol Bakhtiar, who appears calm, likens the experience to playing in the finals of a football competition.
While holding his cards close to his chest, the long-time former Kedah Darul Aman midfielder reveals that he plans to woo voters using the same techniques he used on the field.
“How I played football to be close to Kedah fans, that’s what I’m going to do with the voters here,” he tells reporters after nominations earlier.
The 35-year-old also reveals that caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is his idol and biggest inspiration.
“It’s his forward planning for the youth of Kedah and (his efforts) to raise the name of the state for me.”
PN’s Gurun candidate Baddrol Bakhtiar‘I’m not worried’ - Sanusi on allegations against him
12.25pm: Sik, Kedah - Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is unperturbed by the controversies and allegations he faces.
“I’m not worried. The controversies (in question) is just hearsay,” he tells reporters when met after nominations earlier.
Sanusi adds that he won’t respond to baseless allegations.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has been accusing the incumbent of stealing rare earth elements in Bukit Enggang, Sik.
Retired teacher contesting to ‘spice up life’
11.30am: Guar Chempedak, Kedah - Retired teacher Ku Halim Ku Ismail has decided to spice up his life and aim for Guar Chempedak by contesting as an independent.
“I was a secondary school history teacher but since I retired, I don’t like to sit around doing nothing. I believe in living our lives to the fullest.
“If I’m elected to be the assemblyperson, I want to help all Kedahans, especially the fishermen community,” Ku Halim says.
But more than just an independent candidate, the 65-year-old is the younger brother of the seat’s incumbent Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail.
There will be no family clash, however, as Ku Abd Rahman - who won the seat on a BN ticket in 2018 before defecting to Bersatu that same year - will not be contesting and has been replaced with Abdul Ghafar Saad as PN’s candidate.
Handshakes and insults - Sanusi greets rival supporters
11.20am: Sik, Kedah - Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor approaches Harapan-BN supporters to greet them.
He manages to shake some of their hands, but is also bombarded with insults such as “penipu” (liar) and “kepala bapak hang”. The latter is an insult Sanusi is known to use.
The police then form a line between the supporters and Sanusi to ensure the situation does not escalate.
As he leaves the area, the incumbent Jeneri assemblyperson is accompanied by his supporters, who chant, “PN menang” (PN wins).
Fat Full explains why Chinese fielded in Sekinchan
11.15am: Sekinchan, Selangor - Bersatu associate members’ wing chairperson Dr Chong Fat Full says the reason the Malay-based party fielded a Chinese in Sekinchan was due to racial demographics.
Sekinchan candidate Goh Gaik Meng“Here, ethnic Chinese make up about 53 percent of voters, while Malays make up about 43 percent. In this demographic structure, the most suitable candidate should be of Chinese ethnicity,” he tells reporters.
He admits there were concerns about candidate Goh Gaik Meng having a low chance of winning in Sekinchan due to being perceived as an outsider, but that this changed when they did further checks.
“We conducted further analysis and Goh has a strong network here. His previous active involvement in MCA has given him significant influence as well,” Chong says.
Underdog optimistic about unseating top dog
11.05am: Sik, Kedah - BN candidate for Jeneri Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim is optimistic about his chances in the contest against caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
“I will meet as many voters and youths as possible to explain my agenda. Hopefully, I get to meet all 35,000 of them,” he says.
Asked if he will be touted as the menteri besar candidate if he wins the seat, Khizri responds that it is up to party leaders to decide.
“The burden isn’t on me (in this campaign). If I lose, it’s a normal thing. But if I win, I will be remembered for the next five years,” he adds.
Muhamad Khizri Abu KassimChow downplays internal dissent in DAP
11am: Tanjong, Penang - Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow downplays the internal dissent within the party.
He tells reporters that the state chapter has not received any news about boycotts other than members contesting as independents in two seats.
However, he says this will not be an issue as DAP campaigns as a team, not as individuals.
Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow“This (disgruntlement) is a chapter that should be closed, so we can open up another chapter (for Pakatan Harapan) to win power for a fourth term (as the Penang government),” he adds. - Mkini

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