IN the heart of the administrative capital of Putrajaya last night, its main architect Dr Mahathir Mohamad shared the stage with Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, the eldest son of the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, to send a message to the thousands of government servants gathered there – reject the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

During Dr Mahathir’s 22 years in office as prime minister, Nik Aziz, the PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar, was one of his main political foes.

But last night, Dr Mahathir drew attention to the fact that former foes have now banded together in these elections for a common cause, which was to bring down BN and save the country.

“Many people did not think that (Nik Omar) could support Pakatan Harapan,” said the chairman of the opposition coalition comprising PKR, Bersatu, DAP and Amanah.

Thousands gathered on the wet lawn in Putrajaya, listening intently to the speeches by Pakatan Harapan leaders. Many punctuated the speeches with shouts of “Takbir”, while others lit up their handphones in a show of support for the leaders.

In the last general election in 2013, the Putrajaya parliamentary seat was won by Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (BN), who defeated former PAS deputy president Husam Musa by 5,541 votes.

Husam has since left PAS and joined its splinter party, Amanah.

Earlier in his speech, the soft-spoken Nik Omar urged civil servants and all Malaysians to draw strength from the opposition leaders to vote for change.

“I would like to take your spirit and from Tun (Dr Mahathir).

“I also take a spirit from my late father’s political legacy,” said Nik Omar.

Nik Omar is PH’s candidate for the Chempaka state seat in Kelantan. His father held the seat until his death in 2015.

Nik Omar’s brother, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, is contesting as the Bachok parliamentary seat under PAS.

Among the other PH leaders who spoke last night were DAP’s Anthony Loke and Hannah Yeoh, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad from Amanah, Zahir Hassan from PKR and the PH candidate for the Putrajaya seat, Dr Samsu Adabi Mamat.

Samsu is facing Tengku Adnan and Zainal Abidin Kidam (PAS). – May 4, 2018.