UMNO veterans and former leaders campaigning for Pakatan Harapan have earned the praise of Malaysians on social media users, who commend Daim Zainuddin, Rafidah Aziz and Rais Yatim for taking a stand instead of keeping quiet.

On Twitter and Facebook, users said this made the GE14 campaign one to watch closely.

“Tun Daim just joined PH’s fight. Rafidah Aziz and Rais Yatim had also criticised Umno openly though not leaving them. #GE14 will definitely be an interesting one to observe.” said Khalid on Twitter.

Clifford Tan on Facebook said Daim’s support for the opposition showed the government needed to change.

“Even Daim Zainuddin is joining the fray…that shows (how) badly Malaysia needs to remove the Najib (Razak) regime,” he wrote.

Yesterday, Daim, 80, who was finance minister in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration, openly campaigned for PH and called on voters to support the opposition in the PAS stronghold of Kedah and in Penang.

He had previously also made a surprise appearance on PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali’s campaign trail during a visit to villagers in Telok Gong in Pelabuhan Klang, a Barisan Nasional stronghold.

Rafidah, 74, on Facebook yesterday explicitly endorsed PH for government, following numerous posts in the past criticising the BN government led by Najib.

Another Umno veteran who has been criticising Najib and BN is former minister Rais Yatim.

Social media user Azfar Yusof said Dr Mahathir had the support of people who worked with him in the past as he is the PH prime minister candidate.

“Rais Yatim campaigning against BN. Tun Daim also. Rafidah is asking Malaysia to vote PH. Mahathir has gotten his band back together for one final show,” he said.

Alvin Lau applauded Daim for taking a stand instead of sitting on the fence. 

“What say you? This esteemed respected veteran is for justice. no sitting on the fence. Syabas Tun Daim for doing the needful. Salute! Salute!”

Another user, Stevie Chan said Daim’s move was telling as he would not have risked showing open support for the opposition without good reason.

“Daim is a cautious man with plenty at stake. and he has also proven to have superior intel. If Daim terang-terang (openly) comes out in support of PH, it says something.” – May 2, 2018.