Carnival-like atmosphere during launch of Barisan manifesto

High-spirited: Barisan supporters taking a group photograph before the launching of Barisan’s manifesto.

Reports by RAZAK AHMAD , MAZWIN NIK ANIS, THEAN LEE CHENG, LOH FOON FONG, WANI MUTHIAH , FARIK ZOLKEPLI , CHRISTINA CHIN, THO XIN YI , HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM ,SHARON LING, STEPHANIE LEE , ROYCE TAN, VICTORIA BROWN, NATASHA JOIBI, TARRENCE TAN and FATIMAH ZAINAL
Photographs by RAJA FAISAL HISHAN, AZMAN GHANI, YAP CHEE HONG, MOHD FAIHAN MOHD GHANI and MOHAMAD AZHAR ARI 

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a carnival-like atmosphere at the launch of Barisan Nasional’s manifesto as a sea of blue-clad people flooded the Axiata Arena stadium in Bukit Jalil.

As the main action took place inside the stadium, chants of “Barisan Hebat” and “Hidup BN” by the horde of Barisan supporters could be heard from outside the stadium.

The mood was joyous among the supporters, who came from across the country and united in the Barisan colour of blue. They were in visibly high spirits as they took wefies among themselves.

Supporters cheered aloud as the Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made his entrance. The emcee could be heard urging the crowd to make way for Najib to head to the stage.

Towards the end of the event, an air of festivity took hold as balloons were released from the ceiling, and the crowd roared in delight.

Lee Kim Choy, a member of the Batu Gajah MCA division for 30 years, brought along 70 party comrades in two buses.

“We arrived early in the morning because we wanted to take the opportunity to go sightseeing around Kuala Lumpur,” he said when met at the stadium yesterday.

Another MCA member from Melaka, Tan Sing Ming, said he travelled there with 80 other supporters.

The Parliament was dissolved yesterday, paving the way for the 14th General Election.

Umno member Amri Mohamad was particularly excited about the increase in the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), calling it a terrific move towards addressing rising cost of living.

An MIC member from Port Dickson, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had a wonderful experience and a lot of fun with party members at the event.

Participants were also spoilt for choice with the variety of local delicacies offered free of charge by some 20 food trucks lined up outside the stadium.

According to one of the vendors, the food was sponsored by Barisan.