CARETAKER prime minister Najib Razak and opposition leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad held rival ceramah in Kuala Lumpur yesterday in their bid to swing Malay voters in the run up to the 14th general election.

Najib campaigned in Lembah Pantai, Bandar Tun Razak and Wangsa Maju on Labour Day, promising workers grants, wage hikes and job opportunities if Barisan Nasional is returned to power, reports The Straits Times.

“Who doesn’t want BR1M? I doubled it this year. I want to take care of those at the bottom, not cronies,” Najib, 64, was quoted as saying, referring to the 1Malaysia People’s Aid at the rally in the Wangsa Maju.

The federal seat has 90,000 voters, with more than 50% Malay.

In Titiwangsa, Dr Mahathir made a foray into the PAS stronghold, where the Pakatan Harapan coalition is fielding a Bersatu candidate instead of Amanah.

Titiwangsa is held by caretaker second finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani, who is facing PH’s Rina Mohd Harun and Mohamad Noor Mohamad (PAS). Johari won the seat by 866 votes in 2013.

“Although it is raining, we are still out in full force. Turn up like this and vote Pakatan Harapan. We will not just win but win big,” Dr Mahathir told the crowd of 1,500 in Desa Pandan.

Najib earlier addressed 5,000 civil servants and employees of government-linked firms at a Labour Day celebration, reminding them that wala (loyalty) is compulsory and must be given to the current government. – May 2, 2018.