Pakatan launches online campaign to encourage high voter turnout

Syerleena (centre, in white) greeting the audience before the start of the ceramah. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

KNOWING that a high turnout rate could be key in wresting Putrajaya, Pakatan Harapan has launched the “Jom Keluar Undi Untuk Selamatkan Malaysia” (Come Out To Vote To Save Malaysia) social media campaign.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is contesting the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat, said the campaign was to get a voter turnout rate of 85% like in the last general election.

“I was encouraged when I found out from two voters that they returned to Penang just to vote, one from Indonesia and the other from Australia.

“Spread news of the campaign to your relatives and friends so they too can be agents of change on Nov 19,” he told some 300 people during a ceramah at the Penang Chinese Town Hall in Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

Another speaker Zairil Khir Johari, who is Penang DAP vice-chairman, said when Pakatan was the ruling government for 22 months, it approved RM240mil worth of flood mitigation projects but many were later cancelled.

“In the 12th Malaysia Plan where RM400bil has been allocated, Penang only received 1.7% per capita funding despite being one of the country’s top tax contributors,” he said.

Bukit Bendera parliamentary candidate Syerleena Abdul Rashid hopes Penangites will give Pakatan the chance to continue governing to bring more economic success to the state as the candidates had achieved results.

The other speakers were DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi, Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, incumbent Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, incumbent Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Tanjong candidate Lim Hui Ying.

There are 13 parliamentary seats up for grabs in Penang, six on the island and seven on the mainland.

Before the Parliament dissolution on Oct 10, Pakatan held 10, of which DAP have seven and PKR three. Bersatu and Barisan have two and one respectively.