PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: More artistes are joining the election campaigns. The latest are Akademi Fantasia 3 sensation Mawi and actress-cum-singer Betty Banafe.

While Mawi wowed thousands of people, who had gathered despite the heavy downpour, with his songs at a Barisan Nasional gathering in Pantai Dalam, in the Lembah Pantai constituency late last night, Betty is set to campaign for Lembah Pantai incumbent Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Opening act: Mawi singing at the Barisan Nasional gathering in Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur, last night.
Mawi took the stage just before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi spoke to the gathered crowd.

Betty, when contacted yesterday, said she had always been a strong supporter of the Wanita Umno deputy chief.

"I adore her. She is a woman with strong leadership qualities and is dedicated to serving the people," she told The Star.

"I have seen her working and the way she handles things ... you see the results," she said, adding that Shahrizat's warm and friendly personality made her an even more charming character.

Shahrizat, according to the 30-year-old artiste who is of Dutch, Malay, Javanese and Arabic descent, is someone who does her work genuinely from the heart.

Betty, who started campaigning since 1998 while at university, said she never sang or delivered political speeches at the campaign rounds.

"I am just there to show my support. Shahrizat does not need artistes to sing to attract the people," she said, while admitting that her celebrity status did help at times.

Shahrizat is up against PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar and independent candidate Periasamy Nagaratnam.