US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will announce the site for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un within three days and it will not be held at the demilitarised zone along the border between the two Koreas.
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last night announced three “good news” for the people if Barisan Nasional (BN) is given a fresh mandate in the 14th General Election.
In a 30-minute speech, delivered at 10pm amid the backdrop of Seri Kenangan — a humble, two-room wooden house here built by his father the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein — Najib addressed a 4,000-strong crowd, some of whom gathered as early as 7pm.
To a roar of approval, the prime minister announced that if BN was given a new mandate, youths aged 26 and below would be exempted from paying income tax.
“I understand that the youths need money for their expenses, such as buying a car, paying rent as well as to give money to parents. As a government that cares, this marks the first time that this is being done,” he said.
Najib said the income tax exemption would apply to the 2017 assessment year. Those who had paid their taxes last year would receive a full reimbursement.
As for the second good news, Najib announced that a special two-day public holiday would be declared if BN won the election.
The holidays, he said, would fall on Monday (May 14) and Tuesday. For states whose weekends fell on a Friday and Saturday, the special public holidays would fall on Sunday and Monday.
“This would allow Malaysians to spend time with their families as well as make their Hari Raya Aidilfitri preparations.”
His third piece of good news, which drew loud cheers, was on the exemption of toll charges for five days during the Hari Raya holidays.
Najib said all highways would be toll-free two days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri to enable the people to return to their hometowns, as well as on the first three days of the festival.
Najib said these pledges, as well as those made in the BN election manifesto, were proof that the opposition’s claims that Malaysia was a failed or bankrupt nation was untrue.
“A bankrupt or failed nation, as claimed by the opposition, cannot promise all this. We do not need savings, we are a successful nation,” he said.
He also recorded his appreciation to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, other BN leaders and members at all levels for their dedication to BN’s struggle.
He said in the months leading up to the election, he went down to the ground to meet the people and understand their needs and desires.
“This gave me the opportunity to meet the people.
“All the hands I clasped, each face I saw, all these moments hold a special place in my heart.”
Najib said apart from being a leader and prime minister, he was also only human.
“I have feelings and emotions. I’ve been insulted, ridiculed and slandered, but I see it as God’s test and what I have to endure.
“But when I see the faces of the people I’ve met, who told me to not give up, these wounds and scars disappear.
“It is these moments that strengthened my resolve to continue and fight.”
GE14, said Najib, would determine Malaysia’s future. He expressed hope that the people would vote carefully.
“I, Najib Razak, on behalf of BN candidates, humbly ask voters to, without a doubt in their hearts, choose BN, a party which is proven and always keeps its promises.
“For 60 years, we have led this country and effected change after change. If given a new mandate, we will make Malaysia even greater,” he said. Additional reporting by T.N. Alagesh
KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Fuzi Mohamad Fuzi Harun said he, along with the Army Chief, Chief Secretary to the Government and other leaders were also not spared from receiving non-stop calls.
He said the calls, from foreign numbers, had been coming in from last night.
Earlier, several Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders also said that their handphones had been under technical attack since early this morning.
BN Strategic Communications Director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the coalition leaders had been receiving non-stop calls from overseas numbers.
He said it was obviously done to prevent communication among the party leadership and its election machinery.
“Calls from overseas keep coming in every few seconds!
“To prevent us from communicating with our machinery. This is dirty trick!,” he said in a Twitter posting.
Another BN leader, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak also said that his mobile phone had been spammed from early morning.
The Communications and Multimedia Minister said he had been receiving non-stop calls from foreign numbers.
“I have been getting non stop calls from early this morning... it’s really strange,” he said in a twitter posting.
Others who also received such calls included Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who posted that he realised all the missed calls from unknown numbers after he finished voting.
“Just finished voting and realised all these missed calls from unknown numbers. Strange,” he posted on his twitter handle.
Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said she too had been receiving strange calls from overseas numbers, especially from the United States.
She said many other BN leaders had also received the spam calls throughout the morning.
PENAMPANG: What do you do when you want to party at a Bruno Mars concert at night, but you still need to ‘balik kampung’ to cast your vote?
If you’re Daphne Iking, you do both in the same day.
The 40-year-old television personality, who resides in Kuala Lumpur, took a 7.25am flight for Kota Kinabalu, with her husband-manager Azmi Abdul Rahman and their two-year-old son Isidore Daniel.
Shortly after arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the family immediately hailed a Grab ride to the SMK Limbanak polling station, in the Penampang constituency.
Daphne said this is her third time voting, and it still fills her with a sense of pride.
“I still have to hold back my tears as I’m about to cast my vote. There’s always that sense of huge pride and gratitude being Malaysian and having that opportunity to vote.
“Of all the elections I’ve witnessed, this has got to be the most exciting election of all,” she told NSTP.
For the 14th General Election, Daphne, who also has home in Penampang, decided to vote based on the candidate and not the party he or she represents.
She cast her vote for the Penampang parliament and Moyog state seats.
“I know most of the candidates in my constituency, some of whom have looked after me as a kid. So, today’s decision was a little challenging.
“People have been asking me ‘how do you choose?’ Start with knowing the parliament and state candidates once their names are announced. ‘Kena rajinlah sikit research’. If he or she is the incumbent, have they done their job? If not, goodbye,” she said.
Daphne also said it was important for leaders to find a common ground on how to improve the community even if they share different political views.
Asked on she is hoping for Penampang the next five years, Daphne spoke about a duck farm, which she said was contaminating the river that flows near her family property.
“Efforts to bring the matter up to the authorities by my kampung friends were set aside. Clean rivers and ensuring our environment is preserved has always been one of my main concerns.
“We can have development, but it must be done with safety and the environment in mind. I really hope, whatever the results are, our leaders can work together for the well-being of the rakyat and the community,” she said.
The mother of three was also contemplating changing her next voting centre to where she currently resides with her family over the past 15 years, as it makes more sense to vote there logistically as she gets to monitor the elected MP and assemblymen closely. She however did not state any particular constituency.
After casting her vote within just five minutes, Daphne and family enjoyed their favourite ngiu chap (beef noodles) for lunch before boarding a flight back to KL in order to catch the Bruno Mars concert later tonight.
