It’s a race against time for both camps to meet constituents
BENTONG: With three more days to polling, both camps are making full use of the weekend for their campaign.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is in a race against time to meet constituents in his bid to defend the Bentong parliament seat while Pakatan Harapan is hosting DAP heavyweights, including DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in a series of ceramah.
Yesterday, Liow was on the campaign trail in the Sabai and Pelangai state seats, which have a mixed and a Malay majority constituency respectively.
Besides presenting his report card and vision for a prosperous Bentong to the voters, he also dropped by at several operation centres along the way to listen to reports from the election machinery and gave a ceramah at night.
Liow is being challenged by DAP’s Wong Tack and PAS Supporters Club’s N. Balasubramaniam.
Speaking to reporters after a sports day event at SJK (C) Karak, Liow said he was confident that the people of Bentong would make the right assessment before casting their votes.
“They can see that the transformation of Bentong is on the right track. The next five years is crucial for Bentong. If we embark on our journey early, we can also achieve early success,” he said.
Liow said throughout Barisan’s rule, MCA had always championed the harmonious co-existence of all races.
“We do not discriminate against any race.
“We work hand-in-hand to develop a multiracial Malaysia,” he said, adding that Chinese representation in the Government was crucial for the stable and prosperous develop- ment of the country.
Liow also lambasted the Opposition for only paying lip service and instigating anger among the people whenever an election was near.
Over at the Pakatan ceramah, Lim told the audience that it was like fighting in a “guerilla war” as he moved from place to place in his nationwide campaign.
This was Lim’s third appearance in Bentong since April 8.
In a 30-minute speech yesterday, Lim urged the people to come out to vote on May 9 to achieve an 85% turnout.
Last night, Pakatan also organised a concert-cum-ceramah in conjunction with May 5 – the polling date of the last general election.
Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, the daughter of Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and DAP’s Damansara candidate Tony Pua are slated to speak in Bentong today.