GE14: Supporters gather in support candidates nationwide

LANGKAWI: Supporters of respective parties began gathering from early this morning in support of their candidates at the nomination centres nationwide.
In the northern region, voters would likely be treated to a range of multiple cornered fights as the Islamist party PAS through its alliance with Gagasan Sejahtera, is likely to contest in most seats unlike 2013 it was a straight fight between the Opposition (Pakatan Rakyat) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
But at the district office in Langkawi which acts as the nomination centre, there were no signs of any candidates as of 8am and the number of journalists and police outnumbered the onlookers.
A. Gunasekaran, the Langkawi PKR deputy head, said that Pakatan Harapan's candidate who is the Opposition's chairperson, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed is slowly making his way to the nomination site.
For Mahathir who is 92, age is no barrier as, Gunasekaran said he will walk alongside his supporters to the centre.
Mahathir caused a stir earlier when he claimed that a private jet which he had charted to fly to the island resort could have been sabotaged yesterday.
But caretaker Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that there was no report lodged but promised an investigation into the matter.
Mahathir said it was pointless to lodge a police report over it.
In Bukit Bendera, scores of people began gathering at the Padang Polo ground before making their way to the nomination centre at the state caring society complex.
Penang caretaker Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was up early and delivered a press conference in Butterworth where he as usual slammed the BN whose role has been reduced to that of the Opposition for the last two elections.
But state BN chairperson Teng Chang Yeow, who is the Tanjung Bungah state candidate, expressed hope that the national coalition can win more seats again in Penang although the odds are heavily stacked against them.
"We enter an election to win every seat that we are contesting and we will plan towards that," said Teng.
Former journalist Chua Cheong Wee, who will stand on the Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) ticket was seen walking to the nomination centre in Bukit Bendera.
At Permatang Pauh, scores of people began to gather to mark the as Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar follows in her father's footsteps by standing for the state seat here which the family has held since 1982.
In Kepala Batas, former premier Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made an appearance at the nomination centre to support his protegee Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who is defending his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat.
A police spokesperson said that the situation remained calm although the state police have recorded over 100 misdemeanors and reports for the past two weeks.

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