Opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad's visit to a ruling party stronghold and Prime Minister Najib Razak's constituency was expected to be greeted with protests and even violence. But it drew hundreds of curious residents instead, who wanted to see the former premier in the flesh and hear what he has to offer.

Several hundred people turned up on Wednesday night when Dr Mahathir visited Pekan, home to 80,000 voters. A good number were resettled there under a national scheme run by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).