KUALA LUMPUR - After a week of rainy nights, the heavens seemed more forgiving tonight, the final night of campaigning for the 15th General Elections, circumstances suitable enough for the figure of Harris Ibrahim to emerge from the crowds to offer his final words before the battle heads to the polls tomorrow.
An eager crowd of about 5,000 gathered at Taman Rimba Kiara in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, within the Segambut constituency tonight where a bevy of Pakatan Harapan leaders led by former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and incumbent Segambut member of parliament Hannah Yeoh were set to speak.
Fellow activists and followers of political blogshere chatter in the past two decades have been accustomed to the outspoken hardliner Harris offering his verdict on the state of the nation and the sight of him adding his voice to the Pakatan Harapan bandwagon had the crowd cheering.
Having been battling lung cancer the past year, 63-year old Harris was a pale image of his old self but that he gathered enough strength to stand, resting his right arm on a walking stick, on stage and deliver his message had friends recalling the fighting spirit they have all been accustomed to.
"Can we double the vote in Segambut? I came up with five reform agendas. She said send me the agenda," said Harris, in reference to Hannah. "No more race-based politics.
He then took aim at Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who yesterday stated that he knew of Jewish backing of Pakatan Harapan and their aim to Christianise the nation.
"Muhyiddin is lying. He talked about Christianisation by outsiders. He should be careful what he says in public because it could comeback to haunt you," said Harris, as he continued to rile up the crowd.
"You heard what Hans (Isaac) said just now. Take five people to the polling station. I'm going to do it myself. You go back today and send whatsapp messages to people on your phone." Harris, who had been confined to his home as he battled lung cancer, was said to only be able to move for not more than 15 minutes before he would be out of breath and needed to rest. Thus the mere presence of the Asal Bukan Umno (ABU) movement founder earned him applause from the crowd.
"We can only be equal if we get rid of racism tomorrow," he turned towards those mongering the race card as campaign narratives. "We need to take all seats in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. We must try to get all this tomorrow." He even took time to reminisce upon a 2008 speech delivered by Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"It was in May, 2008 and this was in Bentong. Anwar came to give a ceramah and this is what he said. 'Anak Melayu anak kita; anak Cina anak kita; anak India anak kita. Mengapa harus kita bezakan?' (A Malay child is our child; A Chinese child is our child; an Indian child is our child. Why should we be unequal?)," said Harris.