DR Mahathir Mohamad’s first campaign in Malacca was a success as almost 1,000 people in the rural area of Merlimau, Jasin came to cheer him on.

The Pakatan Harapan (PH) prime minister candidate was greeted with a thunderous applause and chanting of “Hidup Tun” upon his arrival.

When he took to the stage, the multiracial crowd was hanging on to every word he said.

When Dr Mahathir accused caretaker prime minister Najib Razak of “stealing money” and “a thief”, the crowd cheered.

“His (Najib) pockets are big. How much money you give him also it goes missing.

“Our country is ruled by a thief. Thieves this days are called Najib. Do we want people like this to be prime minister?,” he asked, to which people replied with a resounding “no”.

The former prime minister also said even people in Umno, including him, were now against Najib’s administration.

“This is extraordinary. I was in Umno before but now I’m a leader that wants to bring down Umno,” Dr Mahathir added.

People around the area that Malaysia Decides spoke to agreed with the points brought up by Dr Mahathir.

“Barisan Nasional has done unfairness, if they are fair we all will support them. But they are cheating, we have had enough of BN,” retired teacher G. Karunakaran said.

Contractor Liow who is from Merlimau added that the country has never seen inflation like this before.

He claimed that the price of houses in Malacca less than a decade ago cost RM70,000 but now have risen to RM 200,000.

Other than that, the improper implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) had also affected the livelihoods of people, said a former soldier Nordin Baharum.

“Even poor people like me get imposed with GST. It is burdensome,” he said.

Dr Mahathir is campaigning tonight alongside former ministers Daim Zainuddin and Rafidah Aziz in Bukit Katil.

This is the first time the trio are making a public appearance under the PH banner. – May 4, 2018.