The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections will witness a three-cornered fight and four-way tussle respectively. Nomination for both seats ended at 10.00am.

In Sungai Besar, BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi will be facing PAS' Dr Abdul Rani Osman and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur.

Whereas in Kuala Kangsar, BN's Mastura Mohd Yazid will be defending her late husband's seat against PAS' Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, Amanah's Ahmad Termizi Ramli and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.

Below is Malaysiakini’s live reports:

LIVE REPORTS

10.50am, Dewan Bernam, Sungai Besar: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali says the party machinery will be mobilised to campaign for the Pakatan Harapan candidates in both seats.

"As deputy president, I have given instructions to the machinery to come down to Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar to support our candidates," he tells reporters.

On the same note, the Selangor menteri besar urges PAS and Amanah to train their guns on BN.

Khairuddin: Mahathir will hit campaign trail

10.25am, Dewan Bernam, Sg Besar: Former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan confirms Dr Mahathir Mohamad will campaign in both by-elections on the Citizens’ Declaration platform.

He says the former premier’s schedule is being finalised.

“If Pakatan Harapan organises a Citizens’ Declaration programme, Mahathir will definitely attend,” he adds.

Abu Backer loses his temper, tears nomination form

10.15am, Dewan Jubli Perak, Kuala Kangsar: Abu Backer Sidek Mohd Zan, who hoped to contest as an independent candidate, withdraws and tears the nomination form.

This is after his proposer and seconder are purportedly not allowed to enter the nomination hall.

The incident happened following a discussion with returning officer Mior Muhammad Jamil Mior Zakaria.

A vexed Abu Backer thumps the returning officer’s table, shouting: "I have dignity too."

After a brief chat with Mior, he leaves the hall. Met later, Abu Backer claims someone does not want him to contest.

Abu Backer previously contested in the Bukit Gelugor by-election in 2014, and shot to stardom when he jumped in front of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s car, after being frustrated for not being able to fix a meeting with the DAP leader.

10.10am, Dewan Jubli Perak, Kuala Kangsar: MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan and Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong arrive at the nomination centre.

Ong says as a member of the BN coalition, MCA is obligated to support the ruling coalition’s candidate.

Quizzed on the support from Chinese voters in the constituency, the Tanjung Malim lawmaker says this issue will be addressed another time.

Nomination closes, three and four-cornered fights

10am, Sg Besar, Kuala Kangsar: Nominations for the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections have closed. In Sungai Besar, it is set to be a three-cornered fight whereas in Kuala Kangsar, it will be a four-cornered bout.

Posing for photos in the nomination hall, the Sungai Besar candidates reveal the order they would be listed in on the ballot paper.

PAS' Dr Rani Abdul Osman will be the first on the list, followed by BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi, with Amanah's Azhar Abdul Shukur last on the sheet.

9.50am, Dewan Sri Bernam, Sg Besar: The candidates for BN, PAS and Amanah have filed their nomination papers.

BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi, PAS's Rani Osman and Amanah's Azhar Abdul Shukur are now sharing a table chatting over breakfast in the nomination hall.

No independent candidates have made an appearance so. Nomination ends at 10am.

GST for dates, not mandarin oranges: Independent hopeful mulls suing gov't

9.40am, Dewan Jubli Perak, Kuala Kangsar: Abu Backer Sidek Mohd Zan, who aims to contest as an independent, says the late MP Wan Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad was a good man, but did not do enough for the constituents.

"There is still poverty and families with no electricity," he tells reporters, adding that if elected, he will eradicate such problems regardless of race.

On national matters, the lawyer criticises BN component party leaders over the Hudud Bill and threatens to sue the government for implementing GST on dates, bu not mandarin oranges.

Five-way battle for Kuala Kangsar

9.30am, Dewan Jubli Perak, Kuala Kangsar: Two independent candidates arrive earlier at the nomination centre to file their papers, turning the contest for the parliament seat into a five-way battle.

The two are former UiTM Perak lecturer Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary and lawyer Abu Backer Sidek Mohd Zan.

Izat Bukhary, 49, files his papers at 9.10am. He is using the pen as his symbol.

9.25am, Dewan Seri Bernam, Sungai Besar: PAS and BN leaders share a table as they wait for their respective candidates to enter the nomination centre.

Among them were PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Later, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali also came to the table and spoke to Ahmad Zahid, whose son-in-law passed away last week.

9.20am, Kuala Kangsar: PKR’s Saifuddin Nasution and Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub are seen sharing a light moment with Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir and Umno vice-president Hishamuddin Hussein.

Azmin Ali arrives, hugs Mat Sabu

9.05am, Dewan Sri Bernam, Sg Besar: Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali arrives unexpectedly. The PKR deputy president then hugs Amanah chief Mohamad Sabu.

He joins other Pakatan Harapan leaders at Amanah's tent outside the nomination centre.

Earlier, Amanah's candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur and Khalid Samad walked over to the BN's tent and greeted their rivals.

Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar jokes that the BN tent, which sits in the middle, acts as a buffer between Amanah and PAS, much to Khalid and Azhar's amusement.

PAS candidate appeals for support in Mandarin

8.45am, Dewan Jubli Perak, Kuala Kangsar: PAS candidate Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, who is accompanied by party president Abdul Hadi Awang, arrives at the nomination centre.

Both Hadi and Najihatussalehah say they are hopeful of winning and capturing non-Malay votes.

"I am in a good mood," says the candidate.

Speaking in Mandarin, she adds: "I hope Kuala Kangsar people will support (me)."

PAS, Harapan supporters on the march

8.30am, Sungai Besar: The number of supporters swells to over 1,000. Rani is at the front, flanked by PAS Unit Amal members. Top PAS leaders accompanying him include deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, election director Mustafa Ali, Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff and Dewan Ulama chief Mahfodz Mohamed. The march will take them about 10 minutes, straight into town.

8.20am, Amanah headquarters, Sungai Besar – About 300 Pakatan Harapan supporters, many of whom are from Amanah, begin marching to the nomination centre, shouting “Hidup rakyat”.

Among those seen leading the crowd are Amanah candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur, PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

Many are dressed in orange, Amanah’s party colour, and some hold placards scribbled with “Siasat 1MDB” (Investigate 1MBD).

Jamal Yunos provides free burgers

8.15am, Dataran Tonggak, Sg Besar: BN's party machinery fuels up on free burgers, provided by controversial Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, before marching to the nomination centre.

Heading the 600-strong BN entourage in support of candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi is Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Other BN leaders present include MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and Selangor BN chief Noh Omar.

Among the placards the supporters carry with them include 'BN Menang Rakyat Senang' (The people will live easy if BN wins) and 'Teruskan Legasi' (Continue the legacy).

Signatures collected for Citizens' Declaration

8am, Kuala Kangsar: Amanah candidate Ahmad Termizi Ramli, who dons a white Malay traditional costume, is in a jovial mood. He is confident of capturing votes from all ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese and Indians - in the constituency.

"We enter the battle to win, not to be an advisor," he tells the media.

Termizi, who initially declined to speak to media personnel, describes himself as a “quiet bridegroom”.

The group of over 200 supporters gather at SMK Clifford before departing to Dewan Jubli Perak, the nomination centre.

Also present are Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli.

The group, mostly dressed in the party’s orange colour, observes a short prayer before marching.

A table is set nearby to collect signatures for the Citizen's Declaration, a movement spearheaded by former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad to remove Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

PAS supporters forced to reverse route

8am, Sungai Besar: PAS supporters gather at Kompleks Bernas to accompany their candidate, Meru assemblyperson Dr Abdul Rani Osman.

The entire procession of 500 supporters is forced to "reverse" its route to the nomination centre. The crowd, mostly dressed in shades of green - the party's colours - are heard grumbling about not knowing which way to go.

"Kata diorang tutup jalan...," says one supporter on the main road, as they were made to stand aside for passing cars.

So far it also remains unclear who among the party's top leaders will be accompanying Abdul Rani.

7.50am: The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar twin by-elections, which will witness three-cornered fights among BN, Pakatan Harapan and PAS, begin today with nominations at 9am.

This multi-cornered contests were partly due to the failure of the opposition to agree to a single candidate. They could be joined by disgruntled leaders from Umno, especially in Kuala Kangsar.

In Sungai Besar (Selangor), the three-cornered fight between BN, PAS and Amanah has a remote chance of turning into a royal rumble after at least 13 candidacy forms were reportedly sold by the Election Commission.

BN will be fielding Sungai Panjang assemblyperson Budiman Mohd Zohdi, who is trumpeting his status as a local against PAS candidate, Meru assemblyperson Rani Osman, and Amanah's Azhar Shukur, religious teacher and entrepreneur.

While in Kuala Kangsar (Perak), BN will field Mastura Mohd Yazid, who need to observe iddah obligation for four months and 10 days, following the death of her husband and parliamentarian for the seat, Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad.

She will defend the seat against PAS' Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad and Amanah's Ahmad Termizi Ramli.

It is unclear if both Umno Youth leader Syed Rosli Syed Harman Jamalullail and former Umno Wanita information chief Hamidah Osman will join the fray in the royal town.

Both the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar seats were vacated after incumbent MPs Noriah Kasnon and Wan Mohammad perished in a helicopter crash during campaigning for the Sarawak state polls last month.