INCUMBENT Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said he would sue the authorities if anyone was prevented from voting on Wednesday over their clothes.

He said nobody has the right to stop voters from going to cast their votes because of what they were wearing.

“If they restrict you from voting over your clothes, tell me. I will sue them for you, ladies and gentlemen,” the DAP lawyer told thousands of people at the Penang Esplanade last night.

Recently, a message alleging that voters must be dressed in government office attire on polling day had gone viral. The Election Commission had since denied there was such a dress code.

According to the Elections Offences Act, a voter can be prohibited from entering the polling station if he or she wears clothes or bring equipment displaying the names of candidates, political party symbols or logos.

Ramkarpal, who is seeking a second term as MP, also urged the people to come out to vote in full force to ensure a huge turnout.

“We need a turnout of at least 85%. If not, it will be difficult to win. That is the reality. Tell your friends to come home and vote,” he said.

Ramkarpal, who sounds like his late father Karpal Singh, said the people owed it to PH de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“What is happening today, is all due to the ‘bak chew’ (eye) flag,” he said, referring to the PKR logo that all PH candidates are contesting with.

“Anwar started this reform movement. We owe it to him. Now we must toss out this government.”

Ramkarpal also urged the people to support his party boss Lim Guan Eng, the caretaker chief minister who is facing an ongoing corruption trial over the purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow.

The graft trial has had little effect in tarnishing Lim’s image as the DAP secretary-general continued to receive support wherever he went for walkabouts and ceramah events.

Last night, thousands continued to wait in the rain to hear Lim speak. The last speaker of the night, he only arrived at the Esplanade at 11.30pm after finishing his ceramah rounds on the mainland.

Earlier, some candidates sang songs on changing the government. PH’s Pulau Tikus candidate Chris Lee sang a tune, telling the BN government to listen to the angry people.

Incumbent Paya Terubong candidate Yeoh Soon Hin also sang an improvised tune with a message to change the government.

The DAP politician seeking his third term also told the crowd to let MCA and Gerakan eat quail eggs – not to let the two BN component parties win a single seat.

“In 2008 and 2013, they ate chicken and duck eggs (winning no seats). This time, let them eat quail eggs,” he said.

Seri Delima candidate Syerleena Abdul Rashid told the people wearing shirts with the “dacing” – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) scale logo – that the scale was now “senget” (tilted).

PH parties, including its former ally PAS, won 30 out of 40 state seats in Penang in the 2013 general elections. The rest were won by BN’s Umno.

Penang PH aims to retain the state by defending the 30 seats. It is also aiming to retain its 10 parliamentary seats and win the remaining three to help the opposition coalition make it to Putrajaya. – May 7, 2018.