The Malaysian Insight

THOUSANDS of Pakatan Harapan supporters have gathered at a field near Dewan Majlis Perbandaran Port Dickson, the nomination centre for the Port Dickson by-election. 

Wearing blue and holding PH flags, they were there to cheer on PKR’s president-elect, Anwar Ibrahim. 

The crowd, led by Anwar and several PKR leaders, including his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, daughter Nurul Izzah and secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, started marching at 8.35am towards the nomination centre.

Other PH leaders with them were DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and national organising secretary Anthony Loke.

Chants of “Reformasi” and several troops of lion dancers accompanied the crowd.

Meanwhile, Parti Sosialis Malaysian protested opposite the nomination centre, demanding higher wages.

The crowd of 30-odd members claimed Pakatan Harapan had not lived up to its promises and were cheating labourers. 

Independent candidate Stevie Chan arrived at the nomination centre before Anwar. 

With a crew of about 20 people, they wore yellow shirts and carried placards bearing the slogan “Kasi Chan”.

Anwar’s former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad were next to arrive.

Saiful in a short press conference said he was not contesting for revenge but to uphold democracy.

He also denied he was put up to it by parties out to embarrass Anwar.

The Election Commission gave the candidates an hour to submit their papers.

The nomination forms must be filled accurately and submitted by the candidate to the returning officer by 10am. He or she must be accompanied by the proposer and seconder.

The Election Committee will vet the candidates for eligibility to contest in the by-election, after which the RO will officially announce the eligible candidates.

The by-election is forced by the resignation of incumbent MP Danyal Balagopal Abdullah on September 12.

Danyal, 68, of PKR, vacated the seat to pave the way for PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim to make a comeback to Parliament.

Barisan Nasional has decided to boycott the by-election on the grounds that the seat was vacated  to fulfil the political  ambitions of Anwar.

Polling is on October 13; early voting is on October 9.

In the May 9 general election, Danyal won the seat by a majority of 17,710 votes. He defeated Barisan Nasional candidate V.S. Mogan  and Mahfuz Roslan of  PAS. – September 29, 2018.