THE all-out effort to woo voters has escalated into personal attacks, with name-calling and mudslinging ramped up as the 15th General Election (GE15) campaign enters its final leg.
Although the general atmosphere on the ground remains subdued, many candidates are not holding back attcks to undermine their opponents.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has especially been singled out, with a Pas Youth leader also attracting criticism for saying voters who do not support the Islamic party are going to hell.
Anwar came under attack not only from Pakatan Harapan's (PH) one-time ally Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, but also from his arch-nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Shafie singled out Anwar, accusing the 75-year-old politician of being obsessed with becoming prime minister.
He said Anwar had dreamt of it since he was released from jail following PH's victory in the 14th General Election.
"Complete pardon, no conditions imposed, and he could contest any elections.
"He immediately asked the PKR MP (member of parliament) in Port Dickson to resign and allow him to contest there.
"A few months later, he said he wanted to become prime minister and flew to Turkey, where the international media reported that he was next in line to become prime minister," he said at a ceramah in Penampang on Friday night.
Shafie said Anwar was willing to topple even his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was deputy prime minister then, to realise his dream.
"If you have a leader like that, my God, this country will go haywire."
Anwar also came under fire from Dr Mahathir, who said the PKR leader and his supporters should stop blaming him for the 2020 Sheraton Move which led to the collapse of the PH government.
The former Langkawi MP said Anwar and his supporters should not blame him for allegedly not keeping his promise to make Anwar prime minister.
He said the ones to blame are former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, caretaker International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and caretaker Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
"The ones who brought down the PH government were Muhyiddin, Hamzah and Azmin, who pulled out many of their MPs from PH until it lost its majority and fell.
"So blame Azmin, Hamzah and Muhyiddin and their followers who were involved in the Sheraton Move, which caused Anwar to be unable to become prime minister.
"Anwar is also guilty because he caused Azmin and some PKR MPs to conspire with Muhyiddin... Don't just blame me continuously," Dr Mahathir said in a post on social media.
Meanwhile, Pas' Sik Youth chief Mohd Shahiful Mhd Nasir has been condemned for saying voters would "end up in hell" if they voted for Barisan Nasional (BN) or PH instead of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
A video clip of his remarks went viral, forcing him to apologise.
But his apology has not appeased some quarters, with Umno Youth urging the Kedah Islamic Religious Council to take action against Shahiful for uttering remarks that could divide the ummah.
PKR said it would lodge a police report against Shahiful.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the report would act as a reminder to Pas leaders not to use religion as a political weapon.
Mujibu Abdul Muis, fellow at the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair, Universiti Teknologi Mara, said the situation showed that the "war of multiple factions" remained, sending a signal that all political pacts have little confidence in their chances in GE15.
He said everyone, from BN to PH to PN, have yet to show their ability to resolve issues effectively, resulting in mudslinging.
He said Shahiful's remarks do not go down well with the public as it showed PN is unlikely to ensure political stability in the country.
"In the current situation, PN has the most to gain in terms of Malay votes, but statements such this, with the (Pas) Sik youth chief making an unnecessary 'fatwa', will cost PN the Malay vote in urban and semi-rural areas.
"It gives an impression that PN is still stuck with conservative and extreme politics, which will affect voters' perception of the coalition."