DR Mahathir Mohamad will be campaigning in Pekan, Pahang on Wednesday in what appears to be a tit-for-tat move against his protégé-turned-nemesis Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Dr Mahathir’s foray into Najib’s parliamentary constituency also sets the stage for his party, Bersatu, to field a candidate there in the 14th general election (GE14).

Bersatu is one of four parties in the Pakatan Harapan coalition. Dr Mahathir has been named as PH’s prime minister candidate.

Dr Mahathir’s visit comes over a week after Najib visited Langkawi in Kedah, where the former prime minister is speculated to contest in GE14.

Najib had gone to the island and announced RM1.3 billion in infrastructure projects. He also told voters there that Dr Mahathir will not be able to serve them better.

This week, Dr Mahathir plans to pull support away from Najib in Pekan’s rural areas. The 92-year-old is scheduled to visit Felda Chini and the Orang Asal community, said a source.

Dr Mahathir is expected to touch on Felda’s controversies in the hopes of swaying settlers’ votes away from Najib.

But while Dr Mahathir still holds sway among rural Malay voters, sources said he faces an uphill challenge in reaching out to voters in Pekan itself, who have been solidly behind Najib and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

For one, Dr Mahathir will not be able to speak at public events in Pahang as no approval has been given for him to hold a ceramah.

“They will not allow him to hold events here. There are too many restrictions,” a source with knowledge of the trip told The Malaysian Insight.

“At the moment, he will meet the people in public areas and speak to them,” the source said.

Earlier attempts by the opposition to make inroads in Pahang, especially in Pekan, have failed.

Najib had inherited the seat after his father’s death in 1976. He has not lost it ever since.

The seat has traditionally been contested by PAS but it was taken over by PKR, who fielded Fariz Musa in the 13th general election. Najib defeated Fariz with a 51,278-vote majority.

Najib also visited Pekan last weekend where he allocated RM564 million for flood relief programmes.

PH and Bersatu have yet to announce its candidates for the constituency. – February 26, 2018.