FREE TENANG LAST DAY What's happening in the by-election campaign in the state constituency of Tenang? Quotable quotes, planned events and unplanned incidents as they take place in N5.

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9am:

It has started raining again in Tenang. The final lap of campaign activities by both sides BN and Pakatan Rakyat will likely be affected.

10am: Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein press conference at house No 115, Jalan Sena, Felda Chemplak, Labis

10am: Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Razali Ibrhaim in Kampung Sawah

10.30am:

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan on walkabout at Felda Chempelak

10.30am:

Women Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil at Dewan Serbaguna, Taman Perumahan Awam, Muar, Labis.

11.15am: PAS holds their daily PC, their last for the Tenang by-election. PAS vice-president and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar ( left ) expresses regret over the personal attacks against PAS candidate's husband, Maarof Abd Mutalib over his sick leave.

"Before the start of the by-election, we have told our campaigners not to bring up personal issues of (the) BN (candidate Mohd Azahar Ibrahim).

"I don't think we don't know about (BN candidate Mohd Azahar Ibrahim) and his personality or his wife.

“I don't think we don't know about (MCA president Chua) Soi Lek's video or (PM) Najib Abdul Razak) and (his wife) Rosmah (Mansor)'s previous marriages.

"Because we are civilised people, we don't talk about it. But Umno campaigns as if they are uncivilised," says Mahfuz.

11.30am: Ahmad Maslan on walkabout Perumahan Awam Labis.

12.50: DPM Muhyiddin Yassin arrives at SMK Kamarul Ariffin near Pekan Labis by helicopter. He is scheduled to be at Masjid Pekan Air Panas by 1.15pm.

1.30pm: Ahmad Maslan at Masjid Feld Tenang, lunch at local stall.

1.50pm: DPM Muhyiddin criticises those Malaysians 'who don't feel gratitude for what the government has done to bring Malaysia to greater heights', but says he knows very well this not how Tenang voters think.

He expresses confidence even if a small group of voters have become influenced by "the other side", but asserts the effects is minor.

"Esok berbau-bau awal BN akan dipilih" (There’s a whiff that BN will win tomorrow), says the deputy chairperson of BN.

Muhyiddin also delivers special aid to eight famiies who affected by to Pekan air Panas .

2pm: Minister of Defence Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with Johorean army veterans at Dewan Serbaguna Sungai Gatom Labis,

2pm: Shahrizat at Umno Wanita programme in Majlis Daerah Labis, Labis.

2.15pm: Ahmad Maslan on walkabout at Felda Tenang

3pm: DPM Muhyiddin Dewan Ladang vuoles;

3pm: Razali Ibrahim at Pejabat Pemuda, Labis Division

3pm: Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal and MIC president G Palanivel at Ladang Bukit Dato', Labis.

3pm: DAP is doing house-to-house visits at Pekan Labis, a stronghold of the opposition. The team is led by DAP Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong. However, rain is pouring more heavily, putting a damper on the campaign, which may soon be put to halt.

3pm: Traffic in Labis was paralysed by the last minute of influx of BN and Pakatan Rakyat campaigners, who park their vehicles illegally.

Hundred of Umno Wanita arrive at the housing areas near Labis’ main road to distribute leaflets from house to house. They’re causing quite a stir with their stark red baju kurung and causing a heavy jam at the junction of Labis main road and Jalan Tun Razak.

3.30pm: Ahmad Maslan ‘afternoon chat’ at Kampung Orang Asli Juaseh.

3.45pm: As campaigning comes to the hilt, MCA also starts their house-to-house visits in Labis, just minutes after DAP. Leading the entourage is none other that MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek himself, distributing mandarin oranges coupled with the doctor's advise on the party of choice.

4.30pm: DPM with state and district-level civil servants Dewan SRJK (c) Labis.

5.15pm: An elder voter tells Malaysiakini that she received RM100 ang pow from Johor Mentri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman and his wife at a restaurant in Labis.

"Only those aged over 60 are qualified.They wanted us to take photograph with him. They said it was sponsored by good Samaritans," she said.

However, claims the senior citizen, she would still vote for opposition, as the government "is full of corruption".

5.30pm: Ahmad Maslan at Felda Chemplak

7pm: DPM Muhyiddin at Masjid Felda Cempelak Barat and Dewan Serbaguna Felda Cemplak Barat

7.15pm:

Ahmad Maslan at Masjid Chemplak Barat

7.30pm: DAP  ceramah at Bandar Labis Tengah featuring: Teresa Kok, M Kulasegaran, Normala Sudirman, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, Dr Boo, Tony Pua, Liew chin Tong, TNC, Chua Jui Meng.

7.32pm: Although the 500-table 1Malaysia dinner-cum-concert tonight has attractive prizes like motorbike and plasma TV, the famous Ah Tee Kueh Tiao Kia at Jalan Segamat, Labis, is still full of customers.

The shop has been featured on many TV programmes and newspapers since the by-election was called. It has become a hot spot for campaigners and election tourists.

Meanwhile, seats at the 1Malaysia dinner are filling up fast with Yee Sang as the first course. Though promoted as a multi-cultural event, the attendees are possibly 98 percent Chinese.

Meantime, local Mandarin celebrity Huang An is hosting the event.

8pm: Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman at Dataran Taman Orkid Baru Labis E, Labis.

8.07pm: A 40-table Chinese dinner "Majlis Seri Budaya Pra Tahun Baru Cina" organised by a youth NGO is taking place in a restaurant at Labis. A bunch of little girls in clad in red are performing ballet on the stage. MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu and Johor exco Tan Kok Hong are among the VIPs.

8.21pm: MCA is holding its daily night ceramah in front of its Labis division office, but the response is poor. Only 20 people follow the ceramah in the tent, leaving many chairs empty.

A young lady speaker is shouting a Mandarin slogan mixed with Hokkien, "Vote BN, you will have hope; vote Pakatan, you will 'si kiao kiao' (die)".

8.30pm: Ahmad Maslan at Masjid Kg Redong.

8.40pm: The the 1Malaysia NGO has a 500-table dinner 500m away with tonight's lineup being second-line leaders, a DAP ceramah at Labis Tengah has been able to attract a crowd of around 300 to hear its leaders speak.

Dap state chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau thanks the crowds for attending the ceramah.

"The dinners and the lucky draw that BN treats you to is coming from your money," says Dr Boo.

"We should throw away these BN bad apples. Hope will only come when we change."

Other leaders present include PAS' Nizar, and DAP's Teo Nie Ching, Tony Pua, M Kulasegaran and Teng Chang Khim.

Due to the rainy season, DAP has also set up tents outside their operations room to accomodate the crowds. There are also crowds holding umbrellas outside the tents to hear the ceramah.

Dr Boo also urges voters to vote for 'Cikgu Mala' from pas despite by-election result not tied directly to the relations of power in the Johor state assembly.

"In the next general elections, we will change the johor state government."

He also link BN to an "old smelly cloth" that should be changed this Chinese New Year.

"The cloth that we have not changed for 50 years is smelly already. We should change the cloth."

8.40pm : At the 1Malaysia dinner, after days of dodging publicity, the person in charge of the mysterious 1Malaysia NGO, Aloysius Lim ( right ), appears on stage and gives a short speech.

"In the past two weeks, we have been in Labis to promote the PM's 1Malaysia. 

"While some some say the 1Malaysia NGO is mysterious, and that we dare not face the cameras, the 1Malaysia activities are seen on TV.

"We went to the streets, we had morning exercise programmes, we even washed the drains."

 

However when approached by the media after his speech, Lim  refuses to speak further and hurries off, saying that he needs to welcome the arrival of MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek. 

9pm: Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid at Dewan Serbaguna Pekan Ayer Panas, Labis.

9pm: Razali Ibrahim at Labis PPP office.

9pm: PAS ceramah at Dataran Cikgu Mala (Wayang Pacak); Felda Tenang; Felda Cempelak; Felda Cempelak Barat; Kampung Sawah Baru; Kampung Redong; and Bukut Mambai.

Speakers: Mahfuz Omar, Salahuddin Ayub, Zulkefly Ahmad, Mumtaz Md Nawi, Dr Hatta Ramli, Wan Abd Rahman Wan Latif, Nasir Zakaria, Idris Ahmad, Abu Bakar Chik, Mazlan Aliman, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood, Khalil Idham Lim, Taufek Abd Ghani, Mat Sabu, Suhaizan Kaiat, Nuridah Salleh, Sheikh Ibrahim Salleh, Mohamad Taslim and Zailah Yusof.

9pm: The rain is getting heavier in Labis Tengah, but the crowd still remains to hear ceramah, under a sea of umbrellas.

9.05pm: Due to popular request from the crowd, PAS' Nizar at the DAP ceramah sings the famous Chinese song 'Moon Represents My Heart', despite saying his throat is not so well ( left ).

He even asks the crowds to sing together with him, to which the crowd responds positively, cheering and whistling to encourage him.

The former MB of Perak criticises Prime Minister Najib for "stealing" Perak from the people and Pakatan, and urges the people to vote against BN.

"This Najib is ketua pencuri (the chief of robbers), because Perak people rejected BN and choose Pakatan, but they stole our state."

He also stressed that BN candidate Azahar is not credible and has no integrity, citing the botched land deal now the subject of legal action.

"We have no choice. We have to make sure Johor is saved. We must vote for Normala."

9.15pm: Ahmad Maslan ceramah di Kg Redong.

9.20pm: Refering to the global illicit fund report which reveal billions of ringgit had flow out of Malaysia, MCA-turned-PKR leader Chua Jui Meng condemns all the money are 'black money' from corrupted officials and the cause behind the economy's slow growth over the past 10 years.

"We now know why our economy is slow - because such a big amount has been flowing out. We don't have enough money to develop the economy.

"Tomorrow we must make decision - to vote out Umno and Azahar.

"If the Chinese can give us 80 percent of the votes, Umno will be shaken."

9.30pm: DPM Muhyiddin with residents of Taman Perling.

9.34pm: Despite the lavish 1Malaysia dinner at SJKC Labis where close to 5,000 predominantly Chinese voters were treated to song, food and dance, it still remains to be seen it would increase BN's chances during tomorrow's polling day.

Four out of the five attendees randomly polled by Malaysiakini said that their minds are already made up despite tonight's dinner. However, one uncle said that he might change his mind after the dinner.

Whether their votes are for PAS' Normala Sudirman or BN's Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, one thing that is certain is that to many of the Tenang folk, it's a free eight-course dinner.

Coupled with an all-night long of entertainment, they include a skimpily-dressed girls belting out Hokkien tunes as well as a 'Malaysian Mr Bean'.

At the same time, a 'God of Prosperity' turned up to dish out an ang pow filled with lottery tickets to all the diners.

And if lady luck truly is smiling down upon them, they stand a chance to win prizes including five bicycles, three washing machines, five 42" HDTVs, five motorcycles and 30 hampers.

 

10.15pm: Ahmad Maslan ceramah di Felda Tenang.

10.20pm: DAP auctioned off three campaign T-shirt at its final ceramah. The three bright red T-shirts sporting the Chinese word 'Huan' (change) - the opposition campaign theme for the by-election - had DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s signature scrawled on them.

The first T-shirt was sold at the price of RM250 to a Chinese supporter.

A Malay supporter then bid RM230 for the second T-shirt. He wore on the spot after receiving it from Selangor senior exco Teresa Kok.

The auction of third T-shirt however took a dramatic twist. A Malay man offered RM400 but was defeated by another man, who raised the bid to RM1,000.

The Chinese man subsequently announced that he would give the shirt to the defeated bidder as a present. His generosity drew thunderous cheers and applause from the crowd.

The emcee later announced that DAP Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua would auction off the T-shirt he was wearing.

There were loud shouts of "Take off! Take off! Take off!" from the crowd, demanding Pua to shed his T-shirt for the auction.

However, the emcee quickly said she was only joking and ended the auction session.

12 midnight: The eight-day campaign for the Tenang by-election ends. Tomorrow is polling day and balloting will be done from 8am to 5pm. Results expected at around 8pm.