Day 7 Anwar Met By Thousands At Final 2 Ceramah In Kedah

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DAY 7 | It's day seven of campaigning for the six state elections.
News reports from the ground.
Highlights:
Disrespecting sultan is PN’s true colours, BN candidate says
Gerakan leader welcomes PAS apology, hopes for no repeat
PN will cancel PSI project if it wins Penang
Muhyiddin announces PN’s manifesto for Selangor
Anwar met by thousands at final 2 ceramah in Kedah
Hulu Langat MP belts rock ballad, crowd cheers Anwar’s arrival
11.40pm: Kupang, Kedah - Amanah’s Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan, known for his loud and brash demeanour in Parliament, appears to be quite a singer.
Sany, who is emceeing the Jelajah Perpaduan Mandani event at the Kupang night market, lets loose with his rendition of “Teratai” by Ramli Sarip in an attempt to entertain the crowd at the ceramah while they await Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s arrival.
Shortly after Sany concluded the rock ballad, the highly anticipated man of the hour Anwar arrives.
The Pakatan Harapan chairperson is welcomed by cheers and chants from the crowd.
Sanusi plays in football match, celebrates birthday
10.42pm: Alor Setar, Kedah - Caretaker menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor spends his birthday in a friendly football match with the Kedah Chinese Football Association.
However, his team - dubbed ‘Pilihan MB’ (MB’s choice) - lost the match at the Darul Aman stadium with the score of 2-3.
On Sanusi’s team is PN’s Gurun candidate Baddrol Bakhtiar. Sanusi himself is the Jeneri candidate for the state elections.
Baddrol scored ‘Pilihan MB’s first goal while Pendang assistant district officer Mohd Zhafri Mohd Zohdi scored the second.
Members of the team also brought out a cake to celebrate the Jeneri incumbent’s birthday.
Anwar met by thousands at final 2 ceramah in Kedah
10.40pm: Kupang, Kedah - An estimated crowd of 5,000 supporters await Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s arrival at the state’s Jelajah Perpaduan Madani held at the Kupang night market.
This will be the Pakatan Harapan chairperson’s last stop for his campaign trail in Kedah.
Harapan-BN supporters, majority of them Malays, are mostly decked in blue and red shirts.
Earlier, over in Alor Mengkudu, Anwar was greeted by an estimated 3,000-strong crowd as he arrived at a “Perpaduan Ceramah” held in the state constituency.
Anwar, who was there to stump for Kedah Pakatan Harapan chief Mahfuz Omar in the Alor Mengkudu seat, was welcomed like a rockstar by supporters from Harapan and BN.
I will never ban Umno, PM says
10.22pm: Alor Mengkudu, Kedah - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim momentarily stops his speech at a Jelajah Perpaduan event here tonight to don a “Madani” vest.
The vest is split in blue and red - signifying the BN and Pakatan Harapan coalition colours.
Following that, he defends the criticism hurled against BN chairperson and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to the some 3,000 people attending the event tonight.
“Zahid may have a (court) case but you cannot deny he has the courage. (Former prime minister Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) told him to ban Umno and if he wouldn’t he would ‘kena’ (face the consequences)” Anwar claims.
“But I told him I would never ban Umno because it is a party that has a history with the Malays,” the prime minister adds, which receives a loud cheer from the crowd.
Bersatu no 2 hits back at sexual harassment accusation
10pm: Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur – Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu lodges another police report over the accusation that he committed sexual harassment.
He made the report at the police station here.
He says this second report is being made after a previous report against him was retracted.
“I would like to state that the retraction of the report raises further questions about the motive behind this matter.
Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu“It directly shows clearly the element of accusation thrown against me. In line with that, I would like to respectfully ask the police to investigate this individual (the accuser),” he says.
He also notes that whistleblower site Edisi Siasat published the police report initially lodged by his accuser.
Faizal says he reserves his right to take legal action against the individual as well as Edisi Siasat over this matter.

Zuraida provides free car wash in Bukit Gasing
9.45pm: Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor – Former PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin is at the PKNS flats in Section 17 here, to campaign by providing free car wash service for the day.
The former housing and local government minister is also giving a speech from downstairs where residents can be seen listening from the corridors of the flat.
Zuraida, who is campaigning for Perikatan Nasional’s Bukit Gasing candidate Nallan Dhanabalan, says if they win, they will implement projects and policies to redevelop low-cost flats.
Nallan is going up against DAP’s incumbent candidate Rajiv Rishyakaran.
Muhyiddin announces PN’s manifesto for Selangor
9.30pm: Shah Alam, Selangor - Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin announces the coalition’s manifesto for Selangor, which includes a series of goodies and handouts for Selangor citizens.
Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin (left) and former Selangor menteri besar Azmin AliAmong the incentives, he promises that if Selangor PN wins the state election, a free water initiative for the first 20 cubic metres will be expanded to include households with monthly incomes of up to RM15,000, among others.
He also promises to give all Selangor civil servants an annual allowance of two-month salary as a token of appreciation for their service to the state.
Anwar, Saifuddin fly to Jeneri for Felda do
6pm: Jeneri, Kedah - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrives at Felda Teloi Timur in a Prime Minister Department-owned helicopter, registered as 9M-JPM.
Two other police-owned helicopters also landed in the nearby public field, with registration numbers 9M-PMB and 9M-PMD. One of the helicopters was carrying Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arriving at Felda Teloi TimurAnwar, Saifuddin, and Felda chairperson Ahmad Shabery Cheek are attending the ‘Segalanya Felda’ carnival today. 
The prime minister is expected to make several other stops in Jitra, Alor Mengkudu, and Kuala Ketil later today.
Harapan, BN to launch N Sembilan manifesto Sunday
5.55pm: Seremban, Negeri Sembilan - Negeri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan and BN will launch the pact’s manifesto for the state polls on Aug 6, this Sunday.
State Harapan chairperson Aminuddin Harun says the matter was finalised with state Umno liaison committee chairperson Jalaluddin Alias and the two coalitions’ manifesto committee.
“Alhamdulillah, we discussed (the matter) this morning… we have finalised it, and Insya-Allah it will be launched this Sunday.
“The manifesto will provide benefits for the people as a whole, and it has been improved compared with the previous manifesto. It will definitely be better,” he said when met after a get-together with members of the public in Seremban today.
Aminuddin HarunAminuddin is the incumbent of Sikamat, which he held since 2008, and will face Perikatan Nasional’s Ahmad Raihan Muhamad Hilal as well as independents Bujang Abu and Mohammed Hafiz Baharudin in a four-cornered contest.
- Bernama
Penang PAS to meet grassroots over Lau’s candidacy
5.30pm: Butterworth, Penang - Penang PAS will meet grassroots members over Gerakan president Dominic Lau’s candidacy in Bayan Lepas. 
State PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff says the discussion is aimed at clearing the air over the issue and resolving problems in an amicable manner.
“We are always looking for solutions over this matter… the PAS machinery will help Lau in his campaign. This is the directive from the party leadership and we will back all candidates fielded,” he tells Bernama.
Gerakan president Dominic LauPAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan earlier today apologised for the conduct of PAS members who snubbed Lau during a recent party ceramah.
Takiyuddin said the decision to field Lau was with the agreement of the party’s top leadership and urged members to accept his candidacy with an open heart.
- Bernama
Stop harping on racial, religious issues, DAP MP tells PAS man
5.05pm: Penang - Jelutong MP RSN Rayer urges Perikatan Nasional (PN) to stop using racial and religious issues in their campaigning.
He is responding to Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir, who previously blamed DAP’s incumbent state assembly speaker Ng Suee Lim for blocking a proposed legislative amendment for the unilateral conversion of minors to be raised in the state legislative assembly sitting.
“I am very disappointed because I know that Ng is a rakyat-minded elected representative. He has always served in his area regardless of race and religion,” Rayer says.
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer (centre)He adds that the inspector-general of police and the royals have advised politicians not to touch on the 3Rs (race, religion, royalty) in their speeches.
T’ganu scraps 62 ceramah in honour of ruler’s late mother
4.50pm: Terengganu - A total of 62 ceramah events for the Terengganu state election and the Kuala Terengganu by-election were cancelled in honour of the passing of Tengku Besar Terengganu Fatimah @ Sharifah Nong Alsagoff Abdillah, the mother of Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.
According to Sinar Harian, Terengganu police state election committee assistant commissioner Noor Halim Nordin said that all of the cancelled talks were scheduled to take place on Thursday.
Tengku Besar Terengganu Fatimah @ Sharifah Nong Alsagoff AbdillahThe Tengku Besar of Terengganu was reported to have died in Kuala Lumpur at 3.17am on Thursday.
Comptroller of the Royal Household Mohd Sophian Abu Bakar said her remains were brought to Istana Al-Muktafi Billah.
She was buried at the Masjid Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Royal Mausoleum.
I am no man, clarifies female candidate with masculine name
3.10pm: Langkawi, Kedah - “I’m not a man, but a genuine woman,” BN’s candidate for the Ayer Hangat state seat in Langkawi, Kedah, Hisham Suhaily Othman has clarified.
According to the 46-year-old, she was forced to explain herself after some locals thought the BN candidate for the area was a man.
“I’ve been content with this name since I was little, as it is a gift from my late parents. The confusion only arises when some people refer to me by my name without looking at my face.
“This (the masculine name) came by because my late father wanted all his children’s names to start with Hisham,” Harian Metro quoted her as saying during campaigning today.
Hisham Suhaily OthmanAccording to the Langkawi Wanita Umno chief, her name is stated as Hishamsuhaily on her birth certificate but got split out halfway when she got her identification card done at 12.
Come Aug 12, Hisham Suhaily will face Perikatan Nasional’s Shamsilah Siru (Bersatu), as well as independents Safwan Hanif Shafie and Zulfadli Mohd Yusof.

PN will cancel PSI project if it wins Penang
2.30pm: Bayan Lepas, Penang - The Penang South Islands (PSI) project will be cancelled if Perikatan Nasional wins the state in the upcoming election, says state PN chief Dominic Lau.
"If given the mandate after the state polls, we will cancel the reclamations. We will not allow even one island to be developed.
"PN's focus will instead be on development eco-tourism in fishing villages," FMT quoted the Gerakan president telling reporters during campaigning in Bayan Lepas today.
The PSI, previously known as Penang South Reclamation (PSR), is a project to develop three artificial islands, with an area of approximately 1,700 hectares, in the waters off Permatang Damar Laut, near Bayan Lepas.
The project received objections from the local fishing community and environmental NGOs in the state, alleging it would adversely affect its marine ecosystem.
Gerakan leader welcomes PAS' apology, hopes for no repeat
10.20am: Tanjong, Penang - A Penang Gerakan leader welcomes PAS' apology to Gerakan president Dominic Lau, who was snubbed at a Perikatan Nasional (PN) ceramah in the state.
H'ng Khoon Leng, who is Tanjong Gerakan division chairperson, expresses hope that there would not be a recurrence of a similar incident involving the two parties.
"This is the second time PAS has apologised to Gerakan. The first time was internally for an almost similar reason.
"As far as I'm aware, PAS has never before apologised to another party. The party's leadership needs to do a review after the state elections to solve this disciplinary problem.
“And I hope there will not be a third apology," H'ng, who is also PN's candidate for the Padang Kota state seat, says in a statement today.
Tanjong Gerakan division chairperson H'ng Khoon LengAccording to H'ng, Gerakan leaders' “humble and diplomatic” approach to reaching the party's political goals should not be perceived as a weakness that can be trampled upon.
"We want results for Malaysians, not quarrels among each other over seat allocation, over different opinions on fundamental issues, and over ideological differences."
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, in relaying the apology, acknowledged that Lau should have been accorded adequate respect as an equal member of the PN coalition.
PN candidate shows he does in fact lift
9.30am: Balakong, Selangor - Weightlifters often grunt and vocalise when lifting heavy weights.
But for PN's candidate for Balakong, Steven Lai Choon Wen, the way he vocalises to help him push through his reps is by shouting "Perikatan Nasional!".
In a 30-second clip uploaded on his social media accounts, Lai can be seen working out with several men by doing various forms of bicep curls.
Lai himself was performing the exercise with two dumbbells, albeit with the most questionable form of the bunch.
Lai is an associate member of Bersatu. Little else is known about him. He will be taking on Wayne Ong Chun Wei, who represents Pakatan Harapan and DAP.
Harapan are huge favourites to win the Balakong contest.
Disrespecting sultan is PN’s true colours, BN candidate says
8am: Gombak Setia, Selangor - BN candidate for Gombak Setia, Megat Zulkarnain Omardin says recent blunders involving Perikatan Nasional leaders were a sign from Allah, revealing their true colours.
Speaking in a ceramah at Taman Gombak Ria in Selangor last night, he tells the crowd of about 70 that PN had been claiming that Islam and Malays are under threat when Pakatan Harapan and BN are in power, but it was their leader who ended up disrespecting a Malay ruler.
“Was it (DAP secretary-general) Anthony Loke who insulted the Malay rulers? It was (caretaker Kedah menteri besar) Sanusi (Md Nor) who came to Selangor and insulted the sultan, while we in the unity government have always respected the Malay rulers.
“And he was excited that the people were cheering at him that he ended up bringing up the sultan in his speech and insulted the ruler. This is Allah showing us (who they really are),” he says.
According to Megat, PN leaders were accusing Harapan and BN machinery of boycotting each other.
Gombak Setia aspirant Megat Zulkarnain Omardin“But Allah wants to show us, yesterday (Wednesday), a PN deputy chairperson got shooed away from (PAS’) ceramah. So arrogant of them.” - Mkini

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