DR Mahathir Mohamad will visit Kelantan tomorrow in Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) latest attempt to boost its chances of replacing PAS and Barisan Nasional as the state’s dominant coalition.

The turnout at both of Dr Mahathir’s programmes tomorrow will be closely watched as it will indicate whether PH can trigger the wave of support it needs to win at least 23 seats to form the Kelantan government.

This is since both of Dr Mahathir’s events are in the morning, a time at which his rallies can attract thousands of people.

The two events, the first in Ketereh and the second in Kota Baru are also on Sunday, which is the first working day of the week in Kelantan.

Both are meet-the-people sessions where the PH prime-minister-designate is scheduled to speak. He will be accompanied by Nik Omar Nik Aziz, the eldest son of Kelantan’s legendary former menteri besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

PH candidate for the Ketereh parliamentary seat Radzi Jidin said he is aware of the challenges of getting a crowd on Sunday but added that he was confident voters would still show up.

“We have to work within Dr Mahathir’s limited schedule. We are confident of getting a good crowd because of his huge influence among the Kelantanese. Residents are eagerly waiting for his visit,” Radzi told Malaysia Decides.

This will be the second time Dr Mahathir has visited Ketereh after he and his party, Bersatu, joined PH last year.

A good turnout, Radzi added, would greatly boost PH’s chances in the marginal seat as well as the rest of the state.

“He has this aura which brings Malays out and we hope to ride the momentum of this wave.”

Radzi is taking on Kelantan Umno veteran Annuar Musa and Wan Ismail Wan Jusoh (PAS) in Ketereh. Annuar won by a mere 974 votes in GE13.

Ketereh voters have historically swung between BN and opposition parties. In 1999, it was won by PKR, 2004 by BN only to go back to PKR in 2008.

Kota Baru is being contested by PH’s Husam Musa, Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS) and Fikhran Hamshi Mohd Fatmi (BN). Takiyuddin won the seat by 15,970 votes in GE13. – May 5, 2018.