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KAJANG

More than a month after the controversial resignation of incumbent Lee Chin Cheh, the much awaited Kajang by-election nomination day is finally here.

Much has changed since the Jan 27 resignation sent shock waves across the Malaysian political sphere.

The most crucial is the Sodomy II conviction of PKR's preferred candidate Anwar Ibrahim by the Court of Appeal last Friday, disqualifying him from the contest and throwing the spanner into PKR's ‘Kajang Move’.

Centre to the justification for Anwar move to contest was to enable his entrance into the Selangor assembly to assist the government - now led by PKR's Abdul Khalid Ibrahim - and fend off attacks from the BN. Speculation was rife that he would also replace Khalid as menteri besar.

Malaysians can be forgiven if they feel a round of deja vu when PKR later announced that it will instead nominate Anwar's wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Wan Azizah held Anwar's Permatang Pauh seat from 1999 to 2008 when the opposition leader was first incarcerated for sodomy and corruption.

She was subsequently disqualified from being a member of a legislative house after she stepped down to make way for Anwar to contest.

BN, meanwhile, will attempt to knock down PKR's almost 7,000-vote majority in the May 5, 2013, general election through MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun ( right ).

Equally as soft-spoken as Wan Azizah, Chew on principle resigned as deputy women, family and community development minister in 2010, after scandal-ridden Dr Chua Soi Lek was elected MCA president.

Will this proof of moral courage push her first across the finish line come polling day on March 23?

Malaysiakini reports LIVE

10.40am: Umno election director Muhyiddin Yassin departs.

10.38am: Wan Azizah departs the nomination centre. Her departure is accompanied by supporters singing the PKR song.

She had earlier held a brief press conference but had to rush off to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, where DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh is to set to hear his sentencing for his sedition conviction.

“I am touched by the amount of support (for my candidacy) from PKR and Pakatan.

“This is to be the referendum for the injustice that has taken place. Yes, my family has been under pressure, but this is a referendum on the justice system in this country.

“I hope Kajang voters will vote for me and send a strong message (by rejecting BN),” she said.

Asked if she was confident of winning, she replied: “We are on an uneven playing field. I hope for victory I seek, Insya-Allah , I pray. That is more important.”

10.35am: A BN flash mob breaks into dance in front of the nomination centre.

After their five-minute performance where the group stomped the ground and chanted slogans while standing in combative stances, they closed ranks and began to march away from the nomination centre.

They were wearing black T-shirts that read "Reject Anwar" in the front and "Save Selangor, reject Anwar" at the back.

10.30am: A group of Pakatan supporters are seen carrying a basket of‘kangkung’, while chanting “Kangkung, kangkung, Najib kangkung”.

10.30am: Although nomination has closed, BN supporters are showing little signs of leaving. Instead, their cheering and jeering continues.

10.20am: Pakatan supporters continue to celebrate the official announcement of Wan Azizah’s candidacy with cheers of “Long live Anwar”, “Long Live Kak Wan” and “Reject Umno, go to hell ( pergi mampus )”.

Salahudin then addressed the crowd, saying: “I am confident that Wan Azizah’s candidacy will propel the Kajang people’s support, as in all my observations, the rakyat understand our message of Kajang-to-Putrajaya.

“The conviction of Anwar will enable Wan Azizah to get majority in Kajang,” he said.

Wan Azizah, herself, then exits the nomination centre to mix with the crowd.

10.10am: Over at Pakatan's side, Anwar, who is also PKR de facto leader, joins the crowd as they chant, "Long live the people, destroy BN" and "Reformasi" several times.

10.08am: There is no Independent candidate at close of nomination. It is a straight fight between BN's Chew and PKR's Wan Aizizah.

Their candidacy is announced by returning officer Hasan Nawawi Abdul Rahman and is greeted with cheers from supporters on both ends of the politial divide.

The candidates are seen smiling as they shook hands.

10am: As the closing time for nomination apprioaches, a group of BN supporters, dressed in shirts with "# inikalilah tolak Anwar (This is the time to reject Anwar)" inscribed in them, start to chant, "Reject, reject, reject Anwar and destroy, destroy Pakatan."

At this point, Malaysiakini estimates the number of BN supporters at 3,000-strong.

9.55am: The Pakatan supporters are determined to hang the 'MH370' banner up, but the first attempt to climb a pole fails as the rope unravels.

The second attempt is more successful as supporters work together, clmbing on their comrades' shoulders to reach the top of the pole, and are able to attach the banner.

At this, they cheer "Long live the youth" and clap hands .

9.50am:

Pakatan supporters hold up a large banner with the words "Pray for MH370" in tribute to the passengers and crew of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 , which went missing shortly after takeoff from KLIA in the early hours of last Saturday.

A bushel of kangkung is tied to the banner.

9.47am : While Chew is inside the nomination centre, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai meets with several divisions members from Bera, Pahang, who came to show support for the BN candidate.

Liow says the BN crowd is overwhelming, which he estimates to number at 5,000, including the MCA members.

The Malay version of the BN song is played out repeatedly, and loud, outside the nomination centre, creating the carnival-like atmosphere.

"We are happy with the great response from fellow party members as we are able to mobilise thousands of people within a short period of time," Liow said.

9.45am: BN's Chew Mei Fun and PKR's Wan Azizah are in the nomination centre but there is no sign of any likely Independent candidate. There are still 15 minutes before nominations are closed.

BN supporters have even spilled out onto the main roads outside the nomination centre.

They chant slogans such as "Long Live Barisan", "Mei Fun can sure win", and occasionally break into songs.

Like the Pakatan supporters on the other side, they, too, are separated from the centre by a line of water barriers, razor wire and riot police.

A sign that reads "Beware! Dannet Wire" is posted on the wires.

9.30am: The number of BN supporters swells and they quickly fill up the track where they are told to wait.

9.25am: Wan Azizah shows her nomination papers while outside, Anwar and Khalid greet supporters, separated by barbed wire and a barrier, and even sign autographs.

One supporter is heard yelling out, “Tan Sri Khalid, do your work well. There are many holes in the streets”.

“Datuk Seri (Anwar), how much is a kilo of kangkung going for now,” yells another to peels of laughter from the crowd.

The Pakatan supporters than chant, “Fight, we keep fighting,” and “Long live the people, destroy BN”.

9.20am: Several small groups of around 10 Pakatan supporters per group are walking towards the nomination centre.

Some are disappointed when told the party paraphernalia like hats and masks are for sale and not free. They are later, however, delighted to find party workers handing out free curry puffs.

About 1,000 Pakatan and BN supporters respectively are gathered opposite sides of the sports centre and chanting battle cries under the watchful eye of at least 50 riot police.

9.15am: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang arrives to cheers and cries of "takbir" from the crowd.

9.05am: Wan Azizah, Anwar and several Pakatan leaders enter the nomination centre.

9am: A slight disturbance takes place in front of the nomination centre when a man carrying a PKR flag and garbed in a “PAS for All” shirt makes his way through the sea of BN supporters.

However, the BN supporters merely cheer and jeer loudly and there was no untoward incident as the man is escorted out by police.

Meanwhile, a convoy of at least 30 motorcycles carrying men in dark blue Kajang BN shirts are spotted en route to the nomination centre.

8.50am: Wan Azizah and Anwar Ibrahim arrive with supporters. After a few minutes, the entourage begins to move towards the nomination centre, albeit slowly as photographers are pushing among themselves to take pictures.

At the centre, police form a barrier to prevent supporters from entering the nomination hall.

There is much shoving and pushing to make way for Wan Azizah and Anwar to enter the centre, in view of the large number of supporters pressed up against the barrier.

But finally, the two leaders are able to make it through the police line, manned by Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officers.

8.50am, Kompleks Sukan MPKJ: Chew arrives at the nomination centre with more than 1,000 supporters in tow. She then proceeds inside.

Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim arrives and greets Pakatan supporters and leaders.

Several supporters are spotted carrying another banner, this time with the words, "Kak Wan (Azizah), wipe your tears, keep up the fight".

This is in reference to reports that she had wept in the Court of Appeal last Friday after the court overturned her husband's acquittal on the Sodomy II charge and imposed a five-year jail term.

Those words were also used using the recent Pakatan convention.

8.40am, Niosh Bangi: Selangor Umno information chief Noh Omar gives a short speech, ending with the call "Long live BN".

The supporters than begin to move towards the nomination centre.

8.35am, Kompleks Sukan MPKJ: In a brief speech, Azmin says BN has made a “huge mistake” by thinking it could stop the march of the people with Anwar’s sodomy conviction.

“The cruel decision against Anwar Ibrahim has triggered a people’s wave and it begin in Kajang.

“Hence, Pakatan is united and in agreement to select Dr Azizah as the candidate (replacing Anwar).

“She is the symbol of the reformation in 1998, and succeeded in strengthening the alternative and pakatan pact.

“Her presence will cause a new spirit to sweep upon activists, reformation for the people to stay with us in the push for Putrajaya.” he says.

Niosh Bangi: Led by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, the BN crowd starts to make their way towards the nomination centre.

8.30am, LHDN Bangi: Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, PKR's Dr Xavier Jayakumar, PKR information chief Dr Mohd Nor Manuty and Wangsa Maju MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong join the crowd as they wait for the arrival of Wan Azizah some 300 metres way from the nomination centre.

Supporters carry a banner with the word: “Justice for Anwar Ibrahim, from Kajang to Putrajaya”.

They also carry Wan Azizah's picture and posters that read, “The people are the nation’s judge”.

8.21am, Niosh Bangi: BN candidate Chew Mei Fun arrives.

She is greeted by loud cheers and cries of "Long Live BN" by the over 500 supporters that have now gathered here.

8.10am, LHDN Bangi: More Pakatan leaders arrive to show support. Among them are PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar, Batu Burok assemblyperson Dr Syed Azman, PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar and Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong .

The number of supporters now stand at about 1,000. As they march, they cry out, "Takbir", "Reformasi" and "Fall, fall, BN fall".

8.05am, Niosh Bangi: Hundred of BN supporters gather in front ot the Bangi National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) building, waiting for the arrival of their candidate, MCA’s vice-president Chew Mei Fun.

Home Minister and Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrives.

8.00am, LHDN Bangi: More than 500 Pakatan supporters begin to march from the Bandar Baru Bangi LHDN building towards the nomination centre at Kompleks Sukan MPKJ in Bandar Baru Bangi, led by Azmin, after Rani reads a prayer.

They carry banners in support of PKR candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, accompanied by shouts of “reformasi”.

7.50am, LHDN Bangi: Pakatan Rakyat leaders and supporters begin to fill the car park of the Bandar Baru Bangi LHDN building.

Among the leaders who have arrived are PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Meru assemblyperson Dr Abdul Rani Othman.

[More to follow]