KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — As the two-week campaign period for elections in six states, along with the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, enters its last hours before ending at the stroke of midnight, candidates and leaders of contesting political parties are hard at work putting the finishing touches to ensure their respective ‘Grand Finales’ tonight will translate into victories at the ballot box tomorrow.
Tomorrow, voters will cast their ballots in 245 state constituencies — 36 in Kedah, 45 in Kelantan, 32 in Terengganu, 40 in Penang, 56 in Selangor and 36 in Negeri Sembilan — to elect their new state governments.
In contrast, those in Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency will elect their new MP after the courts invalidated PAS candidate Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim’s victory during the 15th General Election due to elements of bribery.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity of Pakatan Harapan chairman, will wrap up joint Harapan-Barisan Nasional (BN) campaigning efforts by delivering a speech at the Madani Unity Tour Grand Finale programme and a special keynote address in Sungai Petani, Kedah, at 10.30 pm.
In the run-up to the finale, he is also expected at three political ceramahs in Naka, Kuala Nerang at 5pm, at Taman Hidayah in Hutan Kampung at 8.30 pm, and Tapak Pasaraya Aneka Gurun at 9.45 pm.
Meanwhile, in Selangor, caretaker Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced a special holiday for Selangor on August 14, should the Harapan-BN alliance win the state election, during a special keynote address on Facebook this morning.
He also promised to deliver on the five issues in the Tawaran Kita Selangor manifesto, launched on July 31, within the first 100 days of the new administration should Harapan-BN retain the state.
In Negeri Sembilan, caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who is running for the Sikamat state seat, is expected to end his campaign with a Kenduri event at 9pm in the constituency.
Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) is also hitting high gear with their own Selangor PN Grand Finale ceramah at Padang Awam Fasa 5, Taman Melawati beginning at 9pm, while Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), which decided to contest solo for the elections, will hold its Mega Finale ceramahs in Padang Gasing Indah, Seksyen 5, Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, at 8pm.
The state elections kicked off with nominations on July 29. Early voting was conducted on August 8 following the dissolution of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly on June 22, the Selangor State Legislative Assembly on June 23, the State Legislative Assembly of Penang, Kedah, and Terengganu on June 28, and that of Negeri Sembilan on July 1.
— Bernama
