Bkt Selambau - PKR wins

10:45pm) Bkt Selambau: Official final results - PKR’s Manikumar wins with 2,403 vote majority. PKR 12,632 votes vs BN 10,229 votes. Independents 1,326 votes. Spoilt votes 415.

(10:35pm) Bkt Selambau: Official results from 61 out of 64 streams - PKR 11,856 votes vs BN 9,708 votes. Independents 1,245 votes.

more news at TheStar..

PKR’s Manikumar wins in Bukit Selambau

By Shannon Teoh

SUNGAI PETANI, April 7 — First-timer S. Manikumar has ensured that Bukit Selambau is represented in the state executive council after a hard-fought but convincing 2,403-vote win over Barisan Nasional's Datuk S. Ganesan.

The PKR candidate polled 12,632 votes to defeat the former Lunas assemblyman who managed 10,229.

The win in the mixed constituency is a fillip for the PAS-led government of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak as speculation of defections to topple the Pakatan Rakyat continues to swirl.

With Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's MIC also failing to deliver the crucial tie-breaking Indian votes who make up 30 per cent of the electorate here, it also brings the beleaguered party on the brink of irrelevance.

Ganesan was nowhere to be found, having told reporters he would not be at the counting centre as BN reels from yet another election setback with the 2-1 defeat in the triple by-elections.

With even the influence of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad failing to swing the tide, tonight's results confirm that the new leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak will not see a honeymoon period.

Samy Vellu said: “I am certain we have increased Indian support. Even though we are disappointed, we accept the verdict and will work hard to regain the confidence of the Indian community.”

Datuk Johari Abdul, PKR's election director for Bukit Selambau and Sungai Petani MP, said: "Umno may have done well but the other BN component parties have not."

He said BN took most of the Malay areas but PKR won in Chinese and mixed areas even though the Indian support decreased.

news by TheMalaysianInsider..

Ousted Perak MB Nizar (PAS) wins; BN wins in Sarawak

PAS retains Bkt Gantang

TAIPING: PAS’ Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin won the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election with a majority of 2,789 votes.

He beat Barisan Nasional’s Ismail Saffian and independent Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

The 52-year-old former Perak mentri besar garnered 21,860 votes against Ismail’s 19,071. Kamarul Ramizu only managed to secure 62 votes and lost his deposit.

Ismail, 49, is the only local candidate in this three-cornered contest. Nizar, who hails from Kampar, is a registered voter in Pasir Panjang in the southern part of Perak.

Barisan’s expectation of securing more support by fielding a local candidate did not materialise. The coalition managed to get 622 more votes compared with the 18,449 votes it had secured in 2008 general election.

PAS, through Nizar, who was said to be banking on sympathy votes after the Barisan takeover of Perak state, improved its vote count by 1,845 votes compared with the 20,015 votes it garnered in 2008.

The by-election -- largely seen as a referendum on Barisan’s move to capture the state from Pakatan Rakyat by getting three of the latter’s state assemblymen to quit parties of the Pakatan alliance -- was called following the death of its Member of Parliament Roslan Shaharum of PAS in February.

In the last general election, the late Roslan had scored an upset over Umno’s Datuk Abdul Azim Zabidi with a majority of 1,566 votes.

Intermittent rain did not deter voters from coming out to exercise their democratic rights. Turnout was 75.1% or 41,626 of the total 55,562 voters, slightly higher than 72.65% in the 2008 general election.

In fact, the turnout this time was the highest ever for the constituency which was created in 1986. In the last six elections, the average turnout was only 70%.

This semi-rural parliamentary constituency is made up of the three state constituencies of Changkat Jering, Trong and Kuala Sepetang.

Barisan takes Batang Ai

LUBOK ANTU: Barisan Nasional won the remote Batang Ai state constituency in southern Sarawak by a convincing majority of 1,854 votes.

Its candidate Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, 49, from Parti Rakyat Sarawak, defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Jawah Gerang, 55, after garnering 3,907 votes against Jawah’s 2,053.

In the 2006 state elections, Barisan’s Datuk Dublin Unting won against opposition Sarawak National Party (SNAP) by 806 votes in this seat that is made up of 95% Ibans. Unting died on Feb 24 from a stroke.

PKR, which was contesting for the first time in an Iban heartland in Sarawak, gave Barisan a good fight all the way to the finish line, but failed to overcome the powerful election machinery that Barisan had deployed to Batang Ai over the last month.

Mussen is an engineer with the State Agriculture Department, while Jawah was a former five-term MP for Lubok Antu when he was with the now deregistered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak.

OFFICIAL RESULTS N029 BATANG AI
8,006 registered voters

1. Jawah Gerang (PKR) .............. 2,053
2. MALCOLM MUSSEN LAMOH (BN)........ 3,907

Majority .................. 1,854
Votes cast .......... 6,019
Percentage ............... 75.32
Spoilt votes ........... 59

news by TheStar..

Updates on Three by-elections today...

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional’s candidate for Bukit Selambau S. Ganesan is believed to have been the first politician to kick off the nation’s historic triple-play by-elections when he cast his ballot at SJK(T) Ladang Perbadanan at about 8:20am.

The three by-elections are being closely watched not only because of the heightened political scenario but also due to some “firsts” they created.

It was the first time three by-elections will be held in the country on the same day and the first time 15 candidates will fight for a seat.

Also, for the first time, a former mentri besar, who is still an assemblyman, is contesting a parliamentary seat in a by-election.

All in all, 20 candidates are contesting.

The Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah has a record number of 15 candidates -- the highest ever in the country’s election history.

Barisan, under the fresh leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak which promises change under the 1Malaysia concept, has put a lot of pressure on its opponents, with even former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has just rejoined Umno, on the campaign trail.

The Opposition meanwhile believes that Malaysian voters are still supporting PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Voting starts at 8am and ends at 5pm. The results are expected in between 9pm and 11pm.

Bukit Gantang (P59)
The Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election will see a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional’s Ismail Saffian, 49, former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, of PAS and independent Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.

Malays make up 63.5% of the 55,562 voters in Bukit Gantang, followed by Chinese (27.1% ), Indians (9.1%) and others (0.2%).

The Bukit Gantang seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Roslan Shaharom of PAS on Feb 9.

Ismail is a local unlike Nizar who is a registered voter in Pasir Panjang, where he is also its state assemblyman. Kamarul is from Taiping, but is not considered a factor in the by-election.

Ismail, who is Bukit Gantang Umno information chief, is from Kampung Kubu, Bukit Gantang while his wife is from Changkat Ibol in the same constituency.

Bukit Selambau (N25)
Some 13 independent candidates are up against Barisan Nasional’s S. Ganesan and PKR’s S. Manikumar.

The independent candidates are former Kedah PPP Wanita Chief L. Sarala, insurance manager T. Chandrarajan, businessman R. Loganathan, Arumugam’s special assistant S. Moganakumar, management consultant A. Jayagopal, businessman Venason Michael, businessman Tan Hock Huat, former army personnel Mohd Fazil Abdul Wahab, former army personnel Major (rtd) Anuar Abdul Hamid, quarry operator Husaini Yaacob, contractor Abdul Rahim Abu, town planner Khamis Awang, and businessman Radzi Md Lazim.

There are 35,140 voters registered in Bukit Selambau.

Independent candidate V. Arumu­gam won the seat in the 12th general election and later joined PKR and was appointed state executive councillor. He vacated the seat on Feb 8, paving the way for the by-election.

Batang Ai (N29)
The Batang Ai by-election will see a straight fight between Barisan Na­­sional newcomer Malcom Mussem Lamoh, 49, who will face former five-term Lubok Antu MP Jawah Gerang, 55, in this rural, predominantly Iban constituency.

The Batang Ai constituency, located near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, fell vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Dublin Unting on Feb 24.

It has 8,006 registered voters, about 95% of whom are Ibans.

FULL UPDATES AND STORIES CLICK HERE (THE STAR ONLINE)..

Dr M vs Anwar rematch in Bkt Selambau

By Shannon Teoh

SUNGAI PETANI, April 6 – Some 11 years after sacking him as deputy prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed will go head on against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a grand finale for the Bukit Selambau state seat.

Having just rejoined Umno, the former prime minister will arrive in Bukit Selambau at 5.30pm today to put the finishing touches on a Barisan Nasional campaign that appears to have whittled away the 2,362-vote margin it lost by in the last general election.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader will start work earlier in an attempt to reduce gains made by BN before addressing a final ceramah as campaigning officially ends at midnight.

Former Umno vice president Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, a Mahathir loyalist, is already in town and believes his arrival will be “a real political factor” as it will not only bring back Umno supporters who deserted BN last year, but also help to tip over non-Malays who “still accord him the highest level of respect.”

“He is a special secret weapon whose presence will overcome internal bickering,” he said.

The final day of campaigning will be crucial, as most analyses are rating the polls at 50-50. Military intelligence sources as well as bookies believe it is too close to call with only police special branch giving BN a slight edge.

Both Umno and PKR back rooms however, seem to lean towards PKR coming into the final stretch a hair’s breadth ahead as Pakatan Rakyat’s machinery builds up steam while BN’s seem to already be looking to tomorrow’s balloting.

They also seem to agree that the Chinese votes will be firmly behind PKR while BN has the edge with the Malays despite the best efforts of Pas among heartland Malays.

But while it is likely that the 80 per cent sweep of Indian votes by PKR will not be repeated, there is uncertainty over exactly how many will swing to BN and this is the margin where the battle will be won or lost.

Reading Indian voters has been impossible due to defections going both ways, the initial uncertainty over Hindraf’s backing for PKR and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s month-long campaign which nobody can say for sure is having a positive or negative effect.

Various factors have led to PKR candidate S. Manikumar being unlikely to maintain the advantage that previous incumbent V. Arumugam held.

The six Indian and six Malay independents will probably cancel out the effects on Manikumar and MIC’s Datuk S. Ganesan’s final tally and result in a scaling-down of the majority, whoever it goes to.

Sources say that the 13 independents will collect between 2,500 to 3,000 votes in total.

Lower turnouts are also normal for a by-election and total votes are estimated at just over 25,000.

But with this phenomenon usually more significant among non-Malays due to the voters being based outside of the constituency, it will work in Ganesan’s favour.

Despite Umno sources citing unhappiness among rural Chinese over the Pas-led state government, the majority will still go to PKR.

In fact, while Umno will bus in Malay voters, a BN campaign leader told The Malaysian Insider that both MCA and Gerakan are unlikely to do the same as outstation Chinese voters could not be counted on to vote for BN.

PKR election strategist Saifuddin Nasution acknowledges that it will not take four-fifths of Indian votes again, studies show a two-thirds approval of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak among them.

Malays make up just over half of the electorate and BN has made inroads into the seven polling districts previously won by PR with up to three won by PR by just a handful of votes last year set to be turned over.

However, in the four Umno stronghold Malay districts, PKR believes it has made inroads.

“We will still lose those districts, but by reduced majorities,” Saifuddin said, adding that it has achieved this by targetting various opinion makers in local communities to swing pockets of Malay villagers.

Anwar will in fact, be making a visit to one such local leader tomorrow afternoon in a last-gasp bid to pin back gains made by Umno among Malays.

And then on to his final speech tonight, as he looks to put one back over his old boss.

News by TheMalaysianInsider..

Anwar to announce ‘major surprise’ tonight, says PKR

SUNGAI PETANI: PKR has announced that a “major surprise” is in store tonight which it claims will determine the outcome of the Bukit Selambau by-election.

Party information chief Tian Chua and strategic planning director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told a joint press conference yesterday that PKR had something important to announce at a mammoth ceramah by its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Tye Seng Estate here.

Asked by the mass media about the “surprise,” Saifuddin said it would have a telling effect on the by-election, adding: “If the media misses it, be prepared to be scolded by your bosses.”

Saifuddin said the surprise was indirectly linked to the swearing-in of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the nation’s sixth Prime Minister yesterday.

Asked if the announcement would also create an impact on the Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai by-elections, Saifuddin said it remained to be seen.

He was evasive when asked if the announcement would be on speculation that former Bukit Selambau assemblyman V. Arumugam would return from a sabbatical in India to campaign for PKR or whether there were defections among Barisan Nasional representatives.

News by TheStar..

Large field because PKR Kedah chose crony

By Shannon Teoh

SUNGAI PETANI, March 30 - Cronyism and power plays within PKR Kedah is fuelling dissatisfaction among its Indian members that has led to a large field of candidates in the Bukit Selambau by-election.

Independent candidate A. Jayagopal made this accusation today, saying the party was not serious in selecting credible people for the state seat.

The 57-year-old, who has been suspended by the party, seconded what Jerai division chief B. Kalaivanar said today when resigning his entire division from the party - that PKR Kedah are merely interested in votes but not service to the Indian community here. Speaking to The Malaysian Insider, he explained how he was one of 21 candidates interviewed to run on PKR's ticket.

"But the interview did not seem serious. They just asked who you are, why you should be the candidate and whether you have a clean record," he said.

"But what is a clean record? Even Anwar has a sodomy charge," he said of de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He claimed that Anwar was in fact, never part of the selection process but that local leaders had installed S. Manikumar, a political novice that would still appeal to the Indians here but still be under their control.

"They are looking for a crony to take instructions from them," he claimed.

To explain who these leaders were, Jayagopal showed documents from the party establishing that he had founded and led the Pokok Sena division in 2004.

But then in 2007, the party claimed the division was irregular and that he was not a member. In 2008, he was suspended for bringing PKR to court over the 2007 declaration.

He said the move was started by Kedah PKR strongmen Datuk Johari Abdul and Senator Zamri Yusuf, who was then the state chief and that the duo are also pulling the strings behind Manikumar's bid to enter the Kedah executive council as its only Indian representative.

But just like Kalaivanar, he admitted to having ambitions of wanting to be in Manikumar's position.

"I would have run no matter who PKR picked," he said.

A PKR ticket would have given his chances a huge boost. But as it stands now, he is one of many trying to make a point to PKR.

For Jayagopal however, it is likely to come at the cost of his RM5,000 deposit.

News by TheMalaysianInsider..

By-Election:Jerai PKR division dissolved

SUNGAI PETANI, Mon:

The Jerai Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) division was dissolved today after more than 500 of its members, including its head, B.Kalaivanar, resigned.
Kalaivanar said they had lost confidence in the party leadership.

Kalaivanar, who was also the Kedah PKR Indian Community Development Committee chairman, said all the members who resigned would campaign for non-PKR candidates in the Selambau state by-election.

The by-election on April 7 will see a three-way fight among PKR's S.Manikumar, the Barisan Nasional's Datuk S.Ganesan and 13 independent candidates.

news by NSTOnline..

Tri-elections: From straight fight to fray..

Something fishy in Bukit Selambau.. some may say that it shows how truly democratic we are BUT i would like to differ, rather it shows how immature our so-called democracy is.. Why?? Our so-called 'politicians' are not really want to win and serve the rakyat BUT they're chasing personal glory, and MOTIVE behind it is very very very mysterious!!!!!! They should respect their party's decision on the candidacy.. stubborn politicians!!! Something really fishy!!!!

GOAL: To divide the votes.. WHOSE GOAL: Sendri mo fikir....

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians will see a triple-play by-election day on April 7, with everything from a straight fight in one constituency to an all-out fray in another.

In TAIPING, the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election will see a three-cornered fight among the Barisan Nasional, PAS from the Pakatan Rakyat alliance and an independent candidate.

Barisan’s Ismail Saffian, 49, will face former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, of PAS and Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42.

Returning officer Datuk Mahmod Morsidi announced the candidates after nominations closed at 11am Sunday at the Taiping Town Hall.

There were three objections but all were rejected.

Mohammad Nizar was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at 8.45am, followed by Ismail at 9am and Kamarul at 9.20am.

Ismail was accompanied by Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, current Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and thousands of supporters; while Mohammad Nizar was accompanied by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Perak state assembly speaker V. Sivakumar and their supporters.

Ismail, of Kampung Kubu, Bukit Gantang, is the former Bukit Gantang Umno division information chief, while Mohammad Nizar, of Kampung Air Hitam Labu, Kampar, is Perak PAS deputy commissioner.

The Bukit Gantang seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Roslan Shaharom of PAS on Feb 9.

Record broken
In SUNGAI PETANI, the Bukit Selambau state by-election created a record for having the most number of candidates -- 15 altogether, with 13 of them independents.

Returning officer Datuk Abdullah Mat Akhir announced that all 15 candidates who submitted their nomination papers qualified to contest in the by-election.

Among the huge pool of independents are Barisan Nasional candidate S. Ganesan and PKR’s S. Manikumar.

The independent candidates are R. Loganathan, Tan Hock Huat, Mohd Radhi Mat Lazim, Mohd Fadzli Wahab, Abdul Rahim Abu, L. Sarala, A. Jayagopal, S. Moganakumar, Khamis Awang, Husaini Yaacob, Venason Michael, Mejar (Rtd) Anuar Abdul Hamid and T. Chandrarajan.

Abdullah said he received several objections against some of the candidates but rejected them as they did not involve technical matters.

In TAIPING, Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof confirmed that the number of candidates in Bukit Selambau was the highest ever in the country’s election history.

“The previous record was in Sabah involving eight candidates,” he said.

He was not sure, however, whether the record in Sabah was set in a state election, a by-election or a general election.

Asked what could be the reason for the crowded contest, he said, “I don’t know. The only reason I could think of is because in the previous election, an independent candidate ended up being appointed as executive council member.”

“This is a democratic country, that is their choice, we don’t stop them,” he said.

Independent candidate V. Arumugam won the seat in the 12th general election and later joined PKR and appointed state executive councillor. He resigned earlier this year.

Straight fight
In LUBOK ANTU, the Batang Ai state by-election will see a straight fight between Barisan newcomer Malcom Mussem Lamoh, 49, and face PKR’s Jawah Gerang, 55, a five-term former Lubok Antu Member of Parliament.

Returning officer Nelson Mujah Girie made the announcement at the nomination centre at the Lubok Antu Sports complex here after the objection period ended at 11am Sunday.

Jawah was the first to submit his nomination papers when the centre opened at 9am.

He was accompanied by his seconder Lepang Gerang and proposer Unggeh Babang, filing his papers at 9.03am.

Mussem filed his papers at 9.15am accompanied by his proposer, Jampi Tutong and seconder, Gerang Juben.

Sarawak Barisan chairman Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud led the coalition march to the nomination centre together with Barisan director of operations Datuk Seri Dr James Masing and more than 5,000 people.

Also with them were newly elected Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan and former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

The PKR candidate, meanwhile, was accompanied by 3,000 supporters led by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The weather was fine and police helicopters were seen hovering over the area.

Party supporters started converging on the area near the nomination centre as early as 6am.

The 38km road leading to this rural border bazaar from the junction of the Sri Aman-Miri trunk road was jammed with vehicles, ferrying party supporters, election workers and dignitaries while police personnel facilitate traffic and ensure order.

About 850 policemen will be mobilised from today as part of security measures.

Due to the remoteness of Batang Ai, 10 police boats, three helicopters and two light aircraft will also be deployed, with the Election Commission expected to spend RM400,000 to run the by-election.

About 40% of the 22,270 Batang Ai residents from 238 longhouses and 15 longhouses rely on boats as the mode of transport.

There are 8,600 registered voters, comprising 95% Ibans, in the 1,341 sq km constituency where 24 polling centres will be opened on polling day.

The seat fell vacant following the death of four-term Barisan incumbent Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot, who was Sarawak Agriculture and Sports Assistant Minister and Parti Rakyat Sarawak vice-president, on Feb 24.

Batang Ai is one of two state constituencies under the Lubok Antu parliamentary seat. The other is Engkilili. -- Bernama

EARLIER UPDATES

Noon: Bukit Selambau returning officer Datuk Abdullah Mat Akhir said there were nine objections but all were rejected.

11:30am: Nomination papers of all the 15 candidates for the Bukit Selambau by-election were accepted.

11:25am: Bukit Gantang returning officer Datuk Mahmod Morsidi said three objections received, no candidate rejected. So the three-cornered fight is on between Ismail Safian (BN-Umno), former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin (PKR-PAS) and independent Kamarul Ramizu.

11:15am: Batang Ai returning officer Nelson Mujah said two objections were raised but rejected. He declares both candidates eligible. It’s a two-way fight between Barisan’s Malcolm Mussen Lamoh and PKR’s Jawah Gerang.

11am: Small scuffle in front of Taiping Municipal Council building as Barisan supporters throw objects at national DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s car; police manage to keep situation under control.

10:15am: Altogether 15 candidates have filed nomination papers for the Bukit Selambau by-election in Sungai Lalang. Of the number, 13 are independent candidates and one each from Barisan Nasional (Datuk S. Ganesan) and PKR ( S. Manikumar)

Two new independent candidates joined in the fray. They are Radzi Md Lazim, 54, and Khamis Awang, 32.

The others are L. Sarala, T. Chandrarajan, R. Loganathan, A. Jayagopal, S. Moganakumar, Vaneson Michael, Tan Hock Huat, Mohd Fazil Abdul Wahab, Anuar Abdul Hamid, Husaini Yaacob, and Abdul Rahim Abu.

10:10am: It’s a three-cornered fight for Bukit Gantang between Ismail Safian (BN-Umno), former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin (PKR-PAS) and independent Kamarul Ramizu.

10:01am: Nominations close and objection period now until 11am.

10am: Batang Ai returning officer Nelson Mujah declares nominations closed. It’s a two-way fight between Barisan’s Malcolm Mussen Lamoh and PKR’s Jawah Gerang. Independent Johnny Chua decided not to contest, saying he supports PKR’s vision.

9:30am: In Bukit Gantang, Barisan candidate Ismail Safian and PKR candidate Mohd Nizar submit their nomination forms.

9:15am: Pakatan Rakyat leaders at Batang Ai include Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan, Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and Sarawak National Party president Edwin Dundang.

9.14am: Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk S.Ganesan arrives at SMK Teknik 1 in Sungai Lalang to file the nomination papers for the Bukit Selambau by-election.

He was accompanied by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Umno vice-president Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, and party vice-presidents Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, and Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The crowd of supporters for both parties who arrived were in the thousands.

Both the DAP and PAS had defied the orders of the Election Commission not to display flags of parties that were not contesting by hoisting their respective flags.

Since the Pakatan Rakyat candidate is from the PKR, only the PKR flag is allowed to be displayed.

9:11am: Ipoh businessman Kamarul Ramizi, 42, arrives at nomination centre to file his papers as an independent candidate for Bukit Gantang seat.

9:10am: Barisan candidate for Batang Ai Malcolm Mussen Lamoh arrives at the nomination centre accompanied by Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Talib Mahmud and other coalition leaders.

9am: Barisan candidate for Bkt Gantang Ismail Safian arrives at the nomination centre there.

9am: Batang Ai returning officer Nelson Mujah declares nominations open.

8:45am: PKR candidate for Batang Ai Jawah Gerang arrives at the nomination centre at Lubok Antu Sports Complex where a large crowd had already gathered.

8:40am: PAS candidate for Bukit Gantang former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin arrives at the nomination centre.

8:25am: Number of supporters in Bkt Gantang swell to the thousands, hundreds of FRU personnel and police cordon off a 100m radius around the building to maintain calm.

8:15am: Hundreds of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat supporters have started to gather at the Taiping Municipal Council building to await their candidates for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election.

Barisan will be fielding Ismail Safian of Umno against former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin of PAS.

The other two by-elections are the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah and the Batang Ai state seat in Sarawak.

7:20am: Earliest to arrive at SMK Teknik 1 in Sungai Lalang for the Bukit Selambau by-election nomination centre to file his nomination paper was Independent candidate Husaini Yaacob, 44.

Nominations will be open from 9am to 10am. Objections can be lodged from 10am to 11am. The returning officer will announce the candidates at about noon.

News by: TheStar Online..

Other related news: The Malaysian Insider: Rifts inPKR over Bukit Selambau

PKR names candidate for Batang Ai by-election

KUCHING, Mon:

Former Lubok Antu member of Parliament Jawah Gerang, 55, has been named as PKR's candidate in the April 7 Batang Ai Sarawak state seat by-election, PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced in Kuching.

Another leading candidate, Nicholas Bawin, 51, who contested on the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket in the May 2006 state election and lost narrowly by 806 votes to incumbent, the late Dublin Unting Ingot, was made director of operations for Jawah's election campaign.

Anwar said Gerang, the five-term Lubok Antu MP, was chosen after much discussion between supporters of the two proposed candidates.

"I hope everybody will give their cooperation as PKR is confident in Gerang's ability in solving the people's problems and in looking after the interests of all communities in the state.

"I believe that with the strong partnership of Bawin and Gerang, PKR can wrest the Batang Ai seat," he told reporters at a packed conference room.
Gerang, a graduate in Economics from Universiti Malaya, said he would work hard to deliver the seat.

"I believe we can make a good start," he said.

The Batang Ai seat fell vacant following the death of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president Dublin on Feb 24 after being in coma following a stroke in May last year.

Batang Ai is one of the two state seats in the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency. The other is Engkilili.

Gerang is up against Agriculture Department engineer Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, 49, fielded by Barisan Nasional.

Expected to contest as an independent candidate is Johnny Chuat, 38, the publisher of a well-known Iban cultural, educational and entertainment magazine and who has his own portal.

The Election Commission has fixed March 29 as nomination day and April 7 for polling.

News by NSTOnline..

Bkt Gantang: Ismail Safian is Barisan candidate for by-election

TAIPING: Solid Waste Management and Public Cleaning Corporation human resources director Ismail Safian has been named as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the upcoming Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election.

Announcing the name during a meet-the-people session at Simpang near here on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said with Ismail as the candidate, Barisan stood a better chance of winning back the seat, which was previously won by PAS.

“The most important thing is the candidate can work with the divisions leadership to cut down on friction or suspicion,” said Najib, who is also Perak Barisan chief.

While Barisan had considered several names before deciding on Ismail, Najib said one of the criteria was Ismail being a local boy.

“We surveyed and shared opinion with other leaders before deciding on him,” he added, noting that division leaders also gave their full support on Ismail’s candidacy.

Najib also said that as a pre-condition for Ismail’s candidacy, he was not supposed to contest the Bukit Gantang Umno division chief post.

In a separate press conference, Ismail, 48, said he had no qualms about being barred from standing for the division chief’s post.

“My resolution is to serve the people of Bukit Gantang to the best of my ability,” said the Universiti Sains Malaysia graduate from the Housing, Building and Planning faculty.

Asked to rate his chances, Ismail said Barisan stood a good chance of reclaiming the seat as the people had realised that the opposition had cheated them.

“My survey among people of all races confirmed that,” he said, adding that the support now was better than last year.

The father of three girls and two boys, aged between 24 and 10, is now the deputy Kampung Kubu Umno branch chairman.

He joined Umno in 1982 and became Bukit Gantang Umno divisions Youth secretary in 1984.

His highest position in the party was the division’s information chief, which he held between 2004 and 2008.

The Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of its former MP Roslan Shahrum on Feb 9.

The Elections Commission has fixed March 29 as nomination date while polling date falls on April 7.

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Kurup to remain as Pensiangan MP

KOTA KINABALU: PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup will keep his Pensiangan parliamentary seat in Sabah.

The Federal Court here on Friday overturned the Sept 17, 2008 Election Court decision to nullify March 2008 general election results for the seat.

On Feb 12, the Federal Court had reserved its ruling on the election petition appeals for both the Pensiangan parliament and Api Api state seats.

Court of Appeal president Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, who chaired the panel, said the court reserved its judgments on both cases to a date yet to be fixed.

He said this after hearing submissions on the appeals with Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Ariffin Zakaria and Federal Court judge Justice Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman.

On Sept 8 last year, High Court judge Justice David Wong Dak Wah, who was sitting as an Election Court judge, quashed the outcome of the Pensiangan seat that was won uncontested by Barisan Nasional’s Kurup.

Justice Wong held that returning officer Bubudan OT Majalu had erred in overturning an Election Commission directive that PKR candidate Danny Andipai’s nomination papers be accepted though they were filed after the 10am deadline.

The judge had also ruled that the objections against Andipai’s nomination forms — on the grounds that they were not signed and that improper forms were used — were invalid.

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Three by-elections on April 7

KUCHING: The Election Commission has fixed March 29 as nomination day for the Batang Ai by-election while polling is on April 7.

The nomination and polling dates are the same as the by-elections for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah.

Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the Commission decided to hold the three by-elections at the same time so as not to prolong the campaign period.

“We don’t want the campaign period to be too long. If we do it after the by-elections in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau, it would add nine more days to the campaign period to make it a total of 18 days.

“Such a long campaign period could create tension, so we feel that it’s best to hold the by-elections simultaneously; this would also save time for those involved in campaigning,” he told a press conference here Wednesday.

The Batang Ai seat fell vacant following the death of its four-term assemblyman Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot on Feb 24.

Unting, who was also state assistant minister for sports and agriculture and a Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president, died nine months after suffering a stroke and falling into a coma.

Abdul Aziz said the Commission’s officers in Sarawak were ready to conduct the by-election and had made the necessary preparations.

He said the Commission had 25 vehicles and 18 boats ready as well as a helicopter on standby in case of an emergency.

He added that the dates were also suitable in terms of weather conditions as it would not be the dry season yet.

“I understand that during the dry season, it would be more difficult to navigate the rivers in the area,” he said.

The Commission will use the 2008 master electoral roll gazetted on Feb 19 this year for the by-election.

There are 8,006 registered voters in Batang Ai, including 43 postal voters.

Abdul Aziz said an enforcement team would be set up to monitor campaign activities from nomination day to the end of polling at 5pm on April 7.

He also said Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) would be given permission to observe the by-election.

PRS, a Dayak-based Barisan Nasional component party, is expected to meet Thursday to decide on the candidate for the by-election.

Barisan is expected to face PKR, part of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance, and independent(s) in the fight.

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p/s These 3 by-elections will revealed everything..