Big boys to hit the campaign trail

PONTIAN: This super weekend campaigning in the Tanjung Piai by-election takes on an even more feverish pitch with national leaders hitting the campaign trail.

Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional have planned several mammoth ceramah to woo voters, especially those back from outstation including from Singapore for the weekend.

Besides open air ceramah in strategic locations in the constituency, several modified trucks with huge microphones have also been going around blaring their candidate and party messages to the people in the area.

All the political parties are working hard to get a good voter turnout for the by-election as in GE14, the voter turn out was 85%.

Barisan’s Tanjung Piai by-election operation director Datuk Jefridin Atan said former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was expected to be around for a day in the constituency.

“Najib has still got that ‘wow’ factor and he still has good support coming from the grassroots level.

“This will be his third trip to Tanjung Piai, ” he said.

Jefridin, who is also Tanjung Piai Umno division chief, added that many Barisan and Umno leaders have so far visited the constituency and more are expected to come, including former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

MCA leaders will also be out in full force with president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong leading the charge. Also hitting the ground hard will be his deputy Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who heads the campaign at the national level and Johor MCA’s deputy chairman Datuk Lim Pay Hen, who is the party state-level chief for this by-election.

Others joining in are secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon and youth chief Nicole Wong.

Jefridin also emphasised the importance of the personal touch.

“Barisan will not rely solely on big names to draw support for our candidate. Instead, we will be focusing on a more personal touch, trying our best to go door to door, in

the final week before polling on Nov 16, ” he said.

Meanwhile PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin said that Pakatan would intensify its campaign here starting next week and would have its top leaders, including Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim present in Tanjung Piai.

“Anwar will be coming down on Monday and will be delivering about four ceramah at areas around Tanjung Piai.

“Other Pakatan leaders, including Dr Mahathir will be coming down after that to help boost the campaign here, ” he said.

He added that Pakatan will use this weekend, the last weekend before polling day, to reach out to as many outstation voters as possible.

“I urge all voters working or living outside to come back and cast their votes, ” he said, adding that the government has provided express lanes to make it easier for those working in Singapore to come back.

The mother of the late Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik has also come out to campaign for Pakatan.