ALOR SETAR (May 9): Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he feels "very good and confident of winning" Malaysia's 14th General Election after some five million people followed his final campaign message last night.

“You are voting for the future of the people. These people are good people who will ensure a good government, not like Najib’s government. It is the Pakatan government,” the former prime minister told reporters, referring to his comeback bid to replace the government of Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I feel very good and confident of winning unless Najib cheats,” he said after casting his vote with his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at SK Titi Gajah here today.

“I don’t know if he is going to cheat but as far as I can see, the people are not supportive of him. Even the 10 goodies he offered yesterday, nobody cares,” Dr Mahathir said.

In a special address last night, Najib announced that youths aged 26 and below would be exempted from income tax with immediate effect, two extra public holidays on Monday and Tuesday and five toll-free days for highway users in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year. He also repeated several cash incentives that were announced under Budget 2018.

Today, Dr Mahathir claimed that out of the five million people who followed his speech last night, his online live telecast had more than 200,000 views, whereas Najib had 13,000 views for his live speech on TV3.

“Altogether five million people followed my speech, so they seem interested in what I said, and I hope they can be influenced by what I say. Najib’s offer of 10 goodies for many people is a lot of nonsense,” he added.

Dr Mahathir, 92, is contesting the Langkawi parliamentary seat in a three-cornered fight. He said although voter turnout on the island was slow in the morning, he felt voters will come out to vote as the day progresses.

The former prime minister of Malaysia was dressed in a chequered pale shirt and black pants with his Election Commission candidate tag on. He arrived at SK Titi Gajah in a black BMW at 10.55am after flying in from Langkawi.

At SK Titi Gajah, Dr Mahathir smiled and greeted voters, who had come early to cast their votes. They quickly surrounded his car as it was driven into the school compound.

Voters watched Dr Mahathir cast his vote and took photographs of him with their mobile phones through the window of the classroom that was turned into a polling centre.

He visited two polling centres - SRK Kuala Teriang and Kolej Komuniti Cenang, and is expected to return to the island to visit two more centres before heading to Selangor this afternoon to join his Pakatan comrades for the final counting.