DAY 11 | Polling day for Sungai Bakap looms large as we enter the 11th day of campaigning.
Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin is up against Perikatan Nasional’s Abidin Ismail in a straight fight.
The polling day is on July 6.
We will report from time to time from the ground.
This concludes Day 11 of the Sungai Bakap by-election campaign.
Zambry: Joohari has strong leadership skills
4.37pm: BN secretary-general Zambry Abd Kadir says Joohari Ariffin has strong leadership qualities and can drive the state constituency towards significant progress.
This, he adds, was demonstrated during Joohari’s campaigns in the constituency.
“Most importantly, the commitment shown by this candidate in addressing the fundamental and primary issues within the Sungai Bakap constituency is commendable.
“Joohari has presented his manifesto and the pledges are well thought out, not random.
“He also refrained from slander, insulting others or speaking ill of anyone, but rather focused on explaining his commitment to addressing issues,” Bernama reports Zambry as saying after a ceramah session in Taman Seruling yesterday.
Chow promises to set up Sg Bakap Forum if Joohari wins
4.06pm: The Penang state government will set up a Sungai Bakap Forum if Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Joohari Ariffin wins the seat this Saturday.
According to Bernama, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says the forum would serve as a platform for the constituents to lodge complaints directly and seek solutions at the grassroots level.
“We will provide a platform where all community leaders and organisations from across Sungai Bakap can be invited for engagement sessions with our elected representative.
“During the limited time of the by-election campaign, we can't hear grievances from every area.
“But this Sungai Bakap Forum will be an excellent participatory democracy initiative at the grassroots level to bring issues to the state government, state agencies, city councils, district offices and even the federal government,” Bernama quotes Chow (above) as saying during a ceramah in Taman Seruling last night.
Using TikTok for voter reach out
1.30pm: Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin lauds the effectiveness of social media, especially TikTok, as an election campaign tool in reaching out to target groups.
He points out that TikTok is widely popular now as it is easily accessible on smartphones and is used by people of all ages.
“Some of our TikTok video posts have received up to 240,000 views. We must stay current and this new campaign strategy works well.
“Our team produces two to three TikTok content pieces daily,” he told reporters during his campaign around Sungai Kechil yesterday.
Joohari also acknowledges that in today’s elections, the competition is not just about vying for the position of people’s representative but also about showcasing individual creativity on social media.
‘Nothing wrong with Reject Green Wave phrase’
10.30am: Sungai Bakap, Nibong Tebal - Pakatan Harapan says there is nothing wrong with the phrase “Reject Green Wave” that was printed on one of its banners in Sungai Bakap.
This came after Penang PAS deputy youth chief Muhammad Hafiz Alias Al-Baghodi accused Harapan of inciting racial sentiments as he showed a banner with the phrase “Reject Green Wave, Protect Sungai Bakap” in Chinese text.
Training his guns on PAS, Penang PKR information chief Abdul Mohsein Mohd Shariff says the former has been using the “Green Wave” phrase widely to incite racial sentiments.
“We in Harapan seek to maintain harmony, peace and it is imperative for voters to reject this divisive ‘Green Wave’ rhetoric,” he told Malaysiakini. - Mkini
