CLOSE to the final stretch of campaigning for the 14th general election, Malaysia’s youngest component party within the Pakatan Harapan coalition posted a video of its chairman, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, giving a heartfelt message to voters.

The four-minute, two-second video titled “Final Note” posted on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) Facebook page about 2pm garnered about 7,700 views and 515 shares within an hour. As at 4pm, the numbers close to doubled, with 13,000 views and 837 shares.

The video, comprising footage of Dr Mahathir on the campaign trail with his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and other PH leaders, features a voiceover by the former prime minister reciting poetry in Bahasa Malaysia.

“Kita sudah sampai ke penghujung jalan, telah ku kerah kudrat ku untuk menyelamatkan bangsa (We have reached the end of the road, I have squeezed out all my might to save the nation),” the poem read.

“Keringatku masih basah dan nafas juga belum lega (I have yet to be able to heave a sigh of relief, even as my sweat has yet to dry).

“Ku laku semua kerana aku tidak boleh membutakan mata, Seolah semuannya masih biasa dan aku boleh leka (I am doing this because I cannot close my eyes [from all the wrongs] and act as if all is normal).”

The 92-year-old also said in the video that, despite his age, he would continue to fight as long as he is breathing to make sure that the country’s well-being is not compromised.

At the end of the video, Dr Mahathir urged viewers to vote as the first step towards rebuilding the nation together.

Dr Mahathir, who led the country for 22 years, is PH’s candidate for the Langkawi parliamentary seat.

The video ended with Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s logo, one that all PH’s component parties are using in GE14.

Nearly 15 million people are registered voters and will go to the polls on May 9. – May 6, 2018.