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JOHOR BAHRU - With less than 48 hours remaining before campaigning ends at midnight tomorrow, candidates contesting the 16th Johor state election have entered the final sprint to win over voters ahead of polling day on Saturday.
Despite reaching the 13th day of campaigning, candidates from various political parties have shown no signs of slowing down, ramping up efforts through large-scale ceramahs, grassroots engagements and door-to-door visits to secure last-minute support.
The presence of national leaders has also injected fresh momentum into campaign operations. Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to campaign at three strategic locations tonight, including the closely watched Puteri Wangsa state constituency.
PH candidate for Puteri Wangsa, Maszlee Malik, urged voters via Instagram to attend the coalition's "Grand Finale Harapan Johor Selatan" rally.
"People of Puteri Wangsa, show up! You have to come to the finale rally tonight. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is real!" he said.
Meanwhile, PH's Paloh candidate, Dr A. Ruban, has returned to the campaign trail after taking a short break for medical treatment.
"I took a day off for treatment, but I was back on the ground yesterday evening. The fight for Paloh will not stop," he said in a Facebook post.
Johor PKR chairperson Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa also joined the campaign for Kemelah candidate Mohd Afif Abd Hamid by participating in the Felda Redong Motorised Convoy involving 120 motorcyclists.
On the Barisan Nasional (BN) front, coalition chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made a final campaign push by visiting the Endau and Kempas state constituencies to boost the morale of candidates and party workers.
Johor Menteri Besar and BN candidate for Machap, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, continued campaigning across the constituency and posted a video on Instagram urging Johoreans to give BN their mandate on Saturday.
In Larkin, BN candidate Mohd Hairi Mad Shah continued his "Ziarah Kasih" programme, meeting residents personally to seek support for the coalition's development agenda.
Perikatan Nasional (PN), meanwhile, is holding a mega rally in Endau tonight featuring its chairman, Datuk Seri Ir Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, in support of Endau candidate Hasnul Hakimi Hussien.
PN's Kahang candidate, Mazlan Bujang, said he would continue meeting voters until campaigning officially ends.
"There are only two days of campaigning left. As long as there is time, I will continue to be on the ground because every meeting with voters is meaningful," he said on Facebook.
Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) has also intensified its campaign through its "Bersama Tour Truck" initiative, joined by Kota Iskandar candidate Sahrudin Omar, while Larkin candidate Norsinah Abu has been engaging voters through small-group community dialogues.
A total of 172 candidates are contesting 56 state seats in the Johor election, with polling scheduled for Saturday. - BERNAMA