12.20pm: Pudu Plaza – At Jalan Landak, Pudu, some 200 people have started to gather, preparing for the rally. Police are scattered about, searching the protestors’ bags but take no further action. A small quarrel breaks out between protestors and Pudu security personnel when latter try to chase them away. Some foodstalls and restaurants are still open, and a durian stall is seen offering protestors a taste of its wares.

DAP leaders who have shown up include Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Ching Tong, Segambut MP Lim Lip Éng, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, Lukut Adun Ean Yong Tin Sin, Pasir Pinjir Adun Thomas Soo, Bahau Adun Teo Kok Seong.

12.45pm: Dataran Merdeka – Police have fired tear gas at a group of protestors heading towards the area. The cannisters land near the Bar Council building. This group is believed to started from the former KTM headquarters nearby. The crowd is estimated to be 1,000.

12.50pm: About 3,000 to 4,000 people are marching from Petaling Street in downtown Kuala Lumpur to Stadium Negara. They are chanting “Bersih, Bersih, Pilihanraya” and “Hidup, Hidup, Rakyat”.

Six middle-aged protestors began a rendition of Negaraku, immediately receiving strong response from the crowd which sings along. Dr Wong Fort Pin, one of the six singers, said they are celebrating peace. ”We are walking for a better Malaysia,” he said.

12.51pm: Hilton Hotel – PKR leaders Nurul Izzah Anwar, Syed Husin Ali, Lateefah Koya arrive at Anwar Ibrahim’s hotel room. Local and foreign media are at the lobby.

12.55pm: Pudu Plaza – DAP leader Teresa Kok is defying her ban and leading protesters to start the walk towards Merdeka Stadium. The crowd is shouting, “Bersih, bersih,” “Hidup rakyat” , “Rakyat sudah bangun,” and “Daulat Tuanku.”

The have at press time reached Shaw Parade, with no sign yet of police interference. The crowd soon swells to two thousand, with the DAP-led march cleverly sticking to tourist spots at Sungei Wang and Low Yat Plaza past Federal Hotel to foil the police. They are also sending out motorcycle recces to keep them informed of police presence ahead.

1pm: Masjid Jamek – The crowd here has grown to about 1,000 people and is beginning to march. Earlier, a student was hit by a tear gas cannister. He refused to have his photograph taken due to his status.

1pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang – At Jln Puduraya, the DAP-led march of up to 2,000 people reach the city centre, converging with the PKR-led team. The crowd cheers in delight, and chant, “Bersih” and other slogans. They now gather at the Jln Tun Perak and Jln Pudu junction.

1.10pm: Masjid Negara – The mosque is mostly empty. Some are complaining that the toilets are locked.

1.14pm: A fake Twitter account @bersihrally have appeared, apparently created only at 9.42 this morning.

Claiming to provide “live coverage of the Bersih 2.0 rally, with multiple small groups of volunteers in the field reporting” it has since provided false accounts of the goings-on at the current Bersih 2.0 rally. Among some of the allegations are looting in Pasar Seni, clashes with the police at KLCC as well as shots being fired in Bangsar. After being ‘outed’ by other Twitter users, @bersihrally finally posted a message: “Took you guys long enough to figure it out. I’ve done my job. Thanks for playing.”

1.15pm: Official police figures – 514 arrested. 478 males, 36 females.

1.20pm: Masjid Jamek – There is a standoff here. The growing crowd continues chanting while the police await reinforcements.

1.21am: Top Bersih leaders Ambiga Sreenevasan, Haris Ibrahim, Wong Chin Huat and A Samad Said are in Hilton Hotel. They are with politicians William Leong, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Zaid Kamaruddin, Syed Azman Syed Nawawi and Tian Chua. They join Anwar Ibrahim who is in the hotel.

It is confirmed that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has been arrested and taken to Pulapol (Police Training Centre).  Later today, at 5.30pm, PKR sources clarified that Azmin was not arrested.

Earlier, PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub were also nabbed.

1.22pm: Petaling Street – The group of a few thousand which is marching to Stadium Negara turn back to Jalan Tan Cheng Lock after encountering a roadblock. A large group of Sarawakians are chanting ‘Hidup Sarawak’, receive applause from the rest.

1.30pm: Malaysia Hotel – About 500 Umno Youth members have gathered at Jalan Bukit Bintang. All are wearing red T-shirts with the word ‘Patriot’. These T-shirts are also being handed the public, including tourists. The Umno Youth rally is aided with a pickup truck. Speakers would give speeches from the back of the truck and throw down T-shirts.

Among those present are Umno Youth leaders Arman Azhar Abu Hanifah, Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Ahmad Zaki Zahid but there is no sign of the movement’s leader Khairy Jamaluddin. His officers insist he will show up later. The group is currently stationary and chanting “Hancur Bersih” (destroy Bersih) and “Who are we? Patriot!”. They narrowly miss a Bersih 2.0 procession by about five minutes.

1.30pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang – The authorities fire tear gas at Jln Tun Perak, forcing the crowd to retreat once, then the angry crowd shouts, “Masuk” (go in) and starts moving toward Jln Tun Perak .

1.33pm: Jalan Tun Perak – PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli with a loudspeaker tells the crowd of at least 4,000 that party vice-president Mahfuz Omar and about 300 others have been arrested.

“The rakyat’s struggle requires sacrifices… Those under 40 here have never seen real democracy in this country,” he said. The crowd reply with “Allahuakbar”. There are traffic marshals from Bersih also directing the crowd to make way for vehicles passing through.

1.35pm: Press statement by IPK KL.

Thus far, 540 people have been arrested (479 male, 58 women, three juvenile) have been arrested for further investigation. Among the arrested, 11 were wearing yellow Bersih T-shirt and one was wearing a red Patriot T-shirt.

Meanwhile, three individuals believed to be leaders or organisers of the rally were also arrested. They are PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, and party veeps Salahuddin Ayub, Mahfuz Omar.

1.36pm: KL Hilton – Bersih leaders hold a press conference and say they will march to Stadium Merdeka and will not give in to intimidation.

National laureate A Samad Said is also there. S Ambiga says, “the cause of Bersih has been achieved, even before we have taken the first step.”

She said the authorities use of force was useless against the people’s will. “No matter what right will always prevail.” Slamming the mass arrests, Ambiga said their original goals of rallying for electoral reform has grown into something bigger as it has stirred emotions among “right thinking rakyat”.

“First, it has stirred a sense of outrage against the exhibition of raw power by our government, that seems to be living in a time warp. “Secondly, it has stirred in us (the desire) to bring back a sense of balance and decency into our government,” she said. Thirdly, she said the rakyat are beginning to feel empowered to make change, despite police “intimidation”. “You cannot quell the voices,” she said.

1.38pm: LRT Masjid Jamek – A police officer with loudhailer announced: “Perhimpunan hari in tak ada kebenaran jadi diminta semua bersurai serta merta atau kami suraikan dengan kekerasan.” The officer also gave three minutes for the crowd to disperse. This was met with “takbir” and jeers from the crowd, numbering about more than 500 people.

1.40pm: Menara Maybank – Water cannons unleashed on more than 1,000 protestors.

1.43pm: Masjid Jamek – A group of about 10 general duty police officers with gas masks chased after the protesters who ran helter skelter into Masjid India area.

1.44pm: Menara Maybank – Water cannon truck fires at the crowd a second time, this time with chemical laced irritants mixed with blue dye.

Instead of dispersing, the crowd charged forward. Some were seen hitting the water cannon truck with their bare fist. This was met with another round of tear gas. The tear gas managed to disperse the crowd slowly.

1.52pm: Masjid Jamek – There are at least four police trucks stationed at Masjid Jamek LRT station. Crowd has been dispersed by the police tear gas for now, but it is expected they will be regrouped later.

1.55pm: It begins raining in Kuala Lumpur.

1.57pm: Malaysia Hotel – Khairy Jamaluddin appears at the Umno Youth rally and gives out a short speech. He said that Bersih 2.0 cannot be supported because it is infiltrated by opposition parties.

He then leads the crowd in a march towards Stadium Merdeka. They will likely bump into a section of the Bersih 2.0 crowd at the Jalan Bukit Bintang – Jalan Pudu intersection.

1.59pm: Puduraya – Police fired tear gas on an estimated 10,000-strong crowd, which converges in Puduraya, in front of Menara Maybank. Part of the crowd came in from Masjid Jamek while others are from Petaling Street

Police had to resort to using tear gas after the water cannon failed to stop their advance. People in the crowd appear to be recovering from the tear gas and are coming back together to continue with their march.

2pm: Hilton Hotel – It is still raining cats and dogs outside the hotel and the atmosphere inside is tense as Pakatan leaders prepare to march out into the streets.

Despite the tension, they seem energetic and vowed to carry with their march to Stadium Merdeka once they get past the police barricade already set up outside the hotel waiting for them to emerge. The Pakatan leaders are surrounded by a gaggle of reporters as they slowly make their way out towards the confrontation with authorities.

2.10pm: Puduraya – The police are increasingly harsh towards protestors.

They move in to detain dozens of protesters, with officers going in groups of five to six to detain individual protesters. Some are dragged on the road. One protester was bleeding from the head.

Incidences of police brutality were seen, with officers allegedly punching and shoving detainees. They were also allegedly seen manhandling female detainees. Some protesters jumped off a six-foot high ledge to evade capture in possibly one of the most dangerous situations of the day so far.

2.15pm: Puduraya – At Jalan Pudu, the Bersih group moves on towards the Maybank building, passing nearby the junction of Jalan Bukit Bintang, where the Umno Youth Patriot group is holding station.

It appears that both sides are coordinating despite their differences, to ensure members refrain from clashing. However some Umno Youth members persist in pressing forward, baying for blood.

With them are Umno Youth’s Megat Firdouz, Reezal Merican and Arman Azha Abu Hanifah, all banned from the city.

2.15pm: Bukit Bintang – Umno Youth’s ‘Patriot’ procession has stalled momentarily.

According to sources within Umno Youth, the group is waiting for ‘further clearance’ when their desired route to Stadium Merdeka has been blocked by the police. The group are also waiting for smaller pockets of Umno Youth supporters to march from Kampung Attap and PWTC. Umno Youth leader Arman Azha is also seen trying to control the crowd from inching ahead.

It has started drizzling.

2.15pm: KL Sentral – Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih leaders are marching towards from the Hilton Hotel towards KL Sentral shouting “Bersih! Bersih!” but are stopped by the police.

People from inside the station are chanting with the leaders as well. PKR vice-president Tian Chua managed to find a weak spot in the police barricade and led the entire delegation through. The top leaders are expected to march towards Stadium Merdeka.

“The outrageous arrest and mass detentions is most unwarranted especially after the wise advice from the Agong. Bersih has become more than a struggle for electoral reforms but is now for clean politics and governance,” said Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim.

2.18pm: Pudu-Bukit Bintang – As the drizzle starts, the crowds raise their hands and cheer again, and retreat towards Bukit Bintang.

Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy’s political secretary Satees Muniandy reports, “I’m at Jln Pudu. Rain is God’s blessing. The crowd is building up especially under the bridge. Thousands are not leaving despite water cannons, tear gas.”

2.25pm: Brickfields – The Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih 2.0 crowd has managed to emerge from KL Sentral and attempted to enter Jalan Tun Sambanthan where they are met by almost 1,000 supporters.

Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Lim Kit Siang and other personalities are spotted among the crowd. While proceeding towards the city centre, they were pelted with tear gas canisters and chaos ensued. A number of top leaders have been arrested.

2.30pm: Human Rights Watch’s Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson says, “This is a maelstrom of the Malaysian authorities’ own making.

“The failure of the top levels of the Malaysian government to engage in good faith dialogue with citizens demanding basic electoral reforms is the heart of the matter,” he says in a statement, blasting continuing police action against the rallyers.

2.30pm: Puduraya – The 10,000-strong crowd led by PAS leader Dr Hatta Ramli and PKR leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin has regrouped and move towards Kotaraya from Jalan Pudu.

However, the police stationed at the Puduraya junction fire yet another round of tear gas to disperse the crowd. They are unable to retreat to Petaling Street as the road in front of Kota Raya complex has been cordoned off.

Half of them retreated back to Jalan Pudu while others are forced to disperse into the back lanes behind Ancasa Hotel and Puduraya while the police pick on the dispersed groups, making arrests. Several protesters distribute Malaysian flags to others. But those carrying flags become easy targets for the cops and are swooped up.

In the ensuing melee, two TV Selangor reporters are mistakenly arrested despite wearing the press tags. However the duo, Abdul Muin Basuri (right) and Norfarahidayu Baharudin are immediately released after other reporters identity them.

About six are arrested in front of Angkasa Hotel. The rain pounds down on the rally and protestors run helter skelter for shelter. Even the FRU get out of the rain.

The scattered protesters move towards the stadium in small groups of two or three following SMSes from Pakatan leaders asking them to gather there.

2.35pm: Bukit Bintang – The Umno Youth group have stopped in front of Royale Bintang Hotel where they are walking towards another Bersih group at the Jalan Pudu-Bukit Bintang intersection.

2.35pm: Puduraya – As the Bersih group retreats towards Jalan Pudu, the police steadily move in before firing rounds of tear gas into the crowd. The protestors hurl the canisters back into the police.

Some police officers, who were earlier seen punching protestors, are spotted with bruised eyes and coughing.

2.40pm: Bukit Bintang – Umno Youth’s rally stands off with the FRU with neither side budging. Three are arrested after a scuffle ensues as protestors try to break past the FRU and tear gas is fired.

2.41pm: PDRM Facebook: As of 2pm, 644 arrested – 597 males and 47 females.

2.43pm: Jalan Hang Jebat – In a lighthearted moment at Jln Hang Jebat, members of the procession to the stadium stops to buy ice cream from a hawker, who is doing brisk business.

They are mostly from the 10,000-strong crowd in front of Puduraya earlier.

2.43pm: KL Sentral – Pandemonium breaks out at KL Sentral as police fire tear gas in a closed environment as Bersih 2.0 and opposition leaders attempted to exit the station via Brickfields.

The tear gas forced protesters back into the station, which has been locked down. Journalists outside KL Sentral were barred from entering the station, making it difficult to verify the status of the situation.

It was, however, confirmed that a group of Pakatan leaders and individuals were arrested in the chaos, including Batu MP Tian Chua, Kuala Selangor MP Dzukefly Ahmad, artist Wong Hoy Cheong, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son and three other supporters.

2.45pm: Puduraya – The police curiously arrest about 10 individuals out of a large group who have dispersed into the Tung Shin hospital.

Meanwhile, a man (right) who appears to have fractured his leg during the earlier melee is being attended to by volunteer doctors. He was lying unattended on the road with his wrists bound by police, before the medical volunteers spotted him.

“The police held me, grabbed my head, bound my wrists and kicked me. There were several of them,” said the man, visibly in pain.

2.45pm: KL Sentral – Anwar Ibrahim tweets that he has suffered a minor injury and that his daughter Nurul Hana has been arrested during the melee.

Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan confirms that she has been arrested, so too PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

2.48pm: Puduraya – The crowd disperses into Tung Shin Hospital and a nearby Chinese school. Police are firing tear gas into the hospital, attempting to disperse the protestors.

There is abrief respite as Subang MP R Sivarasa tries to negotiate with the police to allow protestors to to Jalan Sultan.

2.50pm: KL Sentral – PKR vice-president N Surendran told Malaysiakini Anwar is bleeding from the head and injured in one of his knees.

2.52pm: Jalan Hang Jebat – Some 3,000 Bersih supporters are gathered here attempting to move over to Stadium Merdeka nearby.

They meet a blockade with barbed wire. The crowd, growing by the minute, groups in front of the cops and chant at them.

Led by PAS election director Hatta Ramli and PKR Johor chief Chua Jui Meng, the crowd calls on the police to remove the barricades to no avail. The two leaders give a short speech each telling the crowd they have accomplished their mission in arriving at the stadium, despite being unable to enter.

They thank the police and tell the crowd to return to Central Market.

2.55pm: Bukit Bintang – There’s a standstill between the Umno Youth’s Patriot rally and the FRU with neither side budging.

About three arrests were made when Umno Youth tried to break through the FRU line, breaking out into a scuffle before a tear gas canister was fired.

2.57pm: Bukit Bintang – Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been arrested when he was found to be resting and clearing his eyes from the tear gas fired, at a shack just 100m from the FRU line.

Water cannons and tear gas have also been aimed at the remaining Umno Youth supporters, pushing them back 50m from their original location. The group has thinned out to about 200.

He wrote on Twitter later that he is being held at the Police Training Academy at Jalan Padang Tembak. He said that one of his exco members was injured by a tear gas cannister. ”Have been taken Pulapol. FRU tear gas straight at them. Exco Zaki Zahid hurt,” he wrote.

3.10pm: PDRM Facebook – The total number of people arrested as of 2.30pm has reached 672.

3.15pm: Puduraya – Police have agreed to give safe passage to the thousands of protesters assembled at Pudu up till Jalan Sultan on condition that they only use half of the road and march peacefully.
The accord was reached after Pakatan parliamentarians R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham negotiated with the police, who also decided to allow the crowd to chant as they march.

3.20pm: Puduraya – The crowd has begun to head from Pudu to Jalan Sultan, thanking the police for allowing them safe passage. The 2,000-strong crowd also began singing Negaraku as they marched.

3.22pm: Bukit Bintang – The 200 Umno Youth supporters at Jalan Bukit Bintang in front of Federal Hotel begin to disperse after negotiation with the police.

Claiming moral victory despite only being able to proceed 200m along Jalan Bukit Bintang – still far from their Stadium Merdeka destination – Umno Youth exco Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said that their message have been conveyed. ”We have come and we fulfilled our purpose,” he told the crowd before another individual led a prayer.

Later, Umno Youth Petaling Jaya Utara chief Arman Azha told Malaysiakini that exco Lokman Noor Adam as well as 20 of their members had been arrested. Movement head Khairy Jamaluddin, who was also arrested, later tweeted that he had been taken to Pulapol while exco Ahmad Zaki Zahid was injured.

“Have been taken to Pulapol. FRU tear gas straight at us. Exco @zakizahid hurt,” he wrote.

3.37pm: Pasar Seni – The triumphant group from Jalan Hang Jebat marched down Jalan Sultan towards Central Market, but were attacked by polie tear gas near the Pasar Seni LRT Station. This forced them to retreat down Jalan Sultan.

3.38pm: Pudu – The 2,000-strong crowd at Pudu has now been denied safe passage to Jalan Sultan, and riot police have fired both water cannons and tear gas at the protesters assembled in front of the Tung Shin hospital. The crowd is now sandwiched between two FRU blockades.

The police started spraying the crowd after negotiations broke down between police and Pakatan MPs R Sivarasa and Ngeh Khoo Ham, following confusion over what the crowd is required to do. It was learnt that the crowd was told to only use one side of the road and march peacefully, while it was understood that the police had wanted them to disperse into smaller groups before they would be allowed to move on.

It is believed that Sivarasa has been detained, though it is not known where he has been taken to.

3.39pm: Pasar Seni – The police fired more than 10 volleys of tear gas at the crowd led by Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Wong Chin Huat (right) without warning as he was trying to deliver a speech before dispersing.

The volley came while the crowd was singing the national anthem. Most of the people are now seeking shelter under the Pasar Seni LRT station as Wong again lead them in singing Negaraku.

3.40pm: Titiwangsa Lake Gardens – About 20 Perkasa members are seen at a restaurant in Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, following the goings-on of the Bersih 2.0 rally on a television screen. However, the group’s president Ibrahim Ali and his deputy were nowhere to be seen. Ten police officers were seen keeping order at the main door of the recreation park.

Meanwhile, a sad fate befell a bride and groom on their wedding day today as their convoy was not allowed through police cordons, forcing them to walk to the site of the wedding celebrations two kilometres away.

3.49pm: Pudu – The group of Bersih 2.0 supporters caught in a pincer between two police cordons in Tung Shin Hospital have now dispersed after police rushed in to arrest dozens.

Most fled through back roads and alleys in small groups to escape while a hardcore few holed up in the upper parking lot of the hospital. The police subsequently fired tear gas cat them and the last remaining holdouts were either arrested or left voluntarily. At least 50 were arrested as police broke up the Tung Shin Hospital crowd.

3.50pm: Istana Negara – A small group of Bersih 2.0 steering committee members are marching towards the palace from Midah Hotel. They are awaiting clearance from the palace to submit Bersih 2.0′s petition.

3.55pm: Pasar Seni – Bersih leader Wong Chin Huat, after reading out the eight demands of Bersih 2.0, calls on the crowd to disperse.

The crowd begins to disperse peacefully with many of them still chanting ‘Reformasi’ and ‘Bersih’ under the Pasar Seni LRT station. This earns them another round round of tear gas.

3.50pm: KL Hilton – At an impromptu press conference, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, N Surendran and PAS deputy secretary general Syed Azman condemn the police brutality that they allege has caused injury to several Pakatan leaders.

They say besides PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim, who has been sent to Pantai Hospital, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Bersih 2.0 leaders Maria Chin Abdullah and national laureate A Samad Said have also sustained injuries.

4pm: Istana Negara – The Bersih 2.0 delegation of about 20 people led by national laureate A Samad Said was stopped by police about 200m away from the palace gates.

Negotiations with the police failed and the group agreed to disperse. However, Samad said he needed to rest and the group left him alone with the police before leaving the area.

4.01pm: PDRM Facebook – Among the top leaders arrested are:

Mahfuz Omar – KL Sentral
Salahuddin Ayub – KL Sentral
Mohamad Sabu – Jalan Mahameru
Fauziah Salleh – KL Sentral
Tian Chua – KL Sentral
S Ambiga – KL Sentral
Hadi Awang – KL Sentral
Azeez Rahim – Jalan Bukit Bintang

4.10pm: Light Rail Train (LRT) stations still closed, according to RapidKL – Pasar Seni, KL Sentral, Masjid Jamek and Dang Wangi.

4.21pm: After almost four hours of cat-and-mouse confrontation with the police in downtown Kuala Lumpur, most of the protesters have dispersed.

The Bersih committee is to call press conference at 4.45pm at Midah Hotel.

4.40pm: Pudu – Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani B Abdullah condemns the authorities for their harsh handling of the protesters.

The police force has not only disrespected the people’s right of assembly but also compromised the safety and health of the public by firing tear gas into the Tung Shin hospital compound. When asked how the people should respond to such violations, he said Malaysians should choose representatives who can protect their rights.

4.50pm: Fadiah Nadwa Fikri of Lawyers for Liberty says that the police have invoked section 28A(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code – denial of access to lawyers – at Pulapol (Police Training Centre), where she says 1,000 people are being detained.

According to her, this is a violation of Article 5 of constitution.

5.34pm: PDRM Facebook – As of 3.30pm, a total of 924 people have been arrested.

6.30pm: Police say 1,401 protesters were arrested during the day-long operation, including 13 children. The authorities estimate the crowd turn out between 5,000 to 6,000.

6.45pm: IPK KL – Ambiga Sreenevasan has been released from detention. KL CID chief Ku Chin Wa said that the police would decide whether to take action against her after investigations are concluded.

Photo Gallery and Videos

Previous : Chronology Of Bersih 9 July Morning

Source : MalaysiaKini

Technorati Tags: 9 july, bersih, bersih 2, bersih chronology, bersih event, bersih live report

7.50am: Masjid Jamek – There is heavy police presence in the vicinity of the mosque. The road fronting the mosque has been sealed off.

7.45am: Masjid Negara – A dozen FRU jeeps and a water cannon truck are stationed at the Jalan Keretapi roundabout opposite the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court complex. No roadblocks are visible, but there are many police personnel in the area.

8am: Jalan Bukit Bintang – The streets of the tourist trap areas in Bukit Bintang are still empty, save for a few cars and a jaywalker. Unlike the other known assembly points for protesters, there is minimal police presence. Umno Youth is expected to rally here at 1.30pm.

8.10am: Tune Hotel – The Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman interchange are being manned by about 100 police personnel who are inspecting all vehicles entering the area. Tourist appear to be having trouble finding taxis.

8.25am: Sogo – The Sogo shopping complex on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman now looks like a police base. More than 10 police trucks and 100 police personnel are spotted. There is another roadblock here, and every vehicle is being inspected.

8.30am: Kampung Baru – Nine Bersih 2.0 supporters are nabbed and packed into one of the two police trucks parked near the Kampung Baru mosque. The road to the mosque has been cordoned off.

8.40am: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman – Bar Council’s monitoring team hits the streets donning black suits and a “Observer” tags on their jackets. ”We will monitor the rally and take photographs if necessary. There are about 100 observers from the Bar Council. Some of them are also providing legal aid,” said HR Dipendra, who leads a team of 15 observers.

8.45am: PAS headquarters – No uniformed police personnel or police vehicles are being stationed here, but a group of unidentified men has set up a video camera opposite the building. PAS’ top leaders are believed to be holed up here.

8.50am: Dataran Merdeka – Police have cordoned off Dataran Merdeka. More than six FRU trucks, including a water cannon truck is being parked here. Along Jalan Tun Perak, near the Masjid Jamek station, more than a dozen FRU trucks and a water cannon truck were spotted.

The area is a favourite haunt of anti-government protestors in the past. An estimated 300 FRU and other police personnel are stationed in the vicinity. ”Nobody can enter this area,” said a uniformed policeman when the reporter tried to enter the area surrounding Dataran Merdeka.

9.00am: Stadium Merdeka – The route to the stadium from Jalan Maharajalela is being blocked with a barbwire barricade. Journalists who wish to enter the area must register with the police.

9.05am: KL Sentral – Police are inspecting the bags of a group of PAS supporters from Kelantan.

9.15am: DBKL – About 60 police personnel and ten police trucks spotted at the T-junction in front of City Hall.

9.25am: Kampung Baru – Another 18 males have been brought to the police truck, joining the nine detained earlier. The truck is parked in front of the Kampung Baru mosque wich was locked up by the mosque committee about ten minutes ago.

9.35am: IPK KL (state police headquarters) – As of 9am, 21 people had been arrested, according to spokesperson ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf. Unofficially, an officer at KL IPK says the number of people arrested has exceeded 100.

9.30am: Maju Junction – Four men are being whisked away by the police after police found yellow shirts in one of their bags.

9.35am: Masjid Jamek – Seven people have been detained. It is unsure why. Reporters are now allowed to get near the truck where they are held. ”You cannot be here. Please speak to my officer if you want to enter this area,” said a police personnel.

9.40am: Istana Negara – A water cannon truck and riot police were spotted at the area. It seems that this strectch of Jalan Mahameru is completely off limits to vehicles.

9.40am: Bukit Bintang – Near Lot 10 shopping belt, it’s holiday as usual for tourists who have started to pour onto the streets and into the malls. The Umno Youth anti-Bersih rally is expected to start from Bukit Bintang Plaza at noon, before marching to Stadium Merdeka about 2km away. Some clashes are expected to take place with Bersih 2.0 supporters who are also marching to the stadium.

However, not a single Umno protester is in sight at the moment. About 50 members of the press have also converged in front of the iconic McDonald’s at the Jalan Sultan Ismail – Jalan Bukit Bintang junction. While there are no roadblocks nearby, a handful of plainclothes policemen are seen loitering about holding their walkie talkies tight.

9.45am: Masjid Negara – At least 1,000 Bersih 2.0 have gathered near the former KTM headquarters and are chanting slogans.

9.50am: Masjid Negara – An elderly man approaching the national mosque with the intention of praying has been turned away by the authorities. The number of Bersih 2.0 supporters at the old railway station is growing.

9.55am: Petaling Street – A diminutive retiree, who only wants to be known as Anne, says freedom is precious. ”I am old, but I am walking (with Bersih) because they are taking away my freedom, I can’t even wear a yellow shirt now,” she said when met. ”When I was young I didn’t do anything. I was in the education service and I had to stomach (misgovernance) like sheep because it was my bread and butter,” she said.

The feisty woman, who had her details taken down by police this morning for wearing a bright yellow shirt, was part of the Bersih rally in 2007. She is walking alone today, “because it’s easier to work alone”. Asked of her children’s reaction to her decision, Anne, who chided a reporter for asking her age, said her children told her to “have a nice walk”.

Petaling Street is under a kilometre from the Bersih’s final destination Stadium Merdeka. Police have cordoned off part of the road as well as adjoining Jalan Tan Cheng Lock.

9.55am: Masjid Jamek – More passengers are streaming out of the LRT station. The police are not checking their personal effects but are keeping close watch. Outside of the Masjid Jamek LRT station, the area along Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Pudu is crawling with police officers. Some are guarding the entrance of Masjid Jamek. This spot was one of the major flashpoints during the first Bersih rally in 2007.

10am: Masjid Jamek – Police are seen randomly checking the people’s bags in the Masjid Jamek LRT station vicinity. ”They asked me to open my bag and asked me where I came from,” says a middle-aged Malay man stopped by the police for a check. However ,the cops did not find anything suspicious in his bag and let him go.

Masjid Negara – At the old railway station at Jln Sultan Hishamuddin, a 70- year-old man wearing a Pakatan Rakyat vest and serban was arrested along with two helpers when he insisted on going to the national mosque for prayers. The three of them are led off in a police jeep.

Masjid Kg Baru – The surroundings of Jalan Abdullah, Jalan Raja Alang and the masjid are calm with light traffic. No Bersih supporters or leaders are in sight. The police seem to have the area under control.

10.05am: Masjid Negara – The crowd in the area is rapidly growing. There are now more than 1,000 people, facing off with about 400 police personnel. No one is allowed inside the national mosque except the police. About 10 police trucks are parked nearby.

10.10am: Sogo – As a steady stream of shoppers enter the mall oblivious to the heavy police presence, one man is seen being whisked away in a police truck. Sogo appears to be the only mall open for business in the vicinity.

10.21am: KLCC – Bersih tweets that there is a police clash with supporters. “Gas canisters used,” it says. Malaysiakini is trying to verify the report.

10.23am: IPK KL – PDRM reports that as at 9am their ‘Operasi Polis Perhimpunan 9 Julai 2011′ has seen 21 arrests – 20 Malays and one Chinese.

10.25am: Masjid Jamek – There are more arrests around Masjid Jamek LRT station. The police truck parked beside the Masjid Jamek mosque has at least 16 people in it.

Earlier, a man in white shirt was arrested after police stopped and checked his bag. Some fund-raising documents were found but they were not related to Bersih 2.0. The man said that he was raising money at a PAS ceramah. Soon after, the police nab another four young women clad in tudung as well as three men. None of them was wearing yellow.

10:35am: Stadium Merdeka – Police have set up barbed wire barricades at the two ends of Jalan Stadium, keeping both pedestrians and vehicles out. However, some 20 press personnel are camped out in front of the stadium.

10.35am: Masjid Jamek – Two women in red and pink respectively have been nabbed by the police and found several strips of red cloth on them. One of them read a newspaper as she was lead away by a female cop. Another man who was carrying a green T-shirt with Jawi script printed on it has been arrested. The Masjid Jamek mosque, which protestors used as a shelter during the 2007 Bersih rally has been locked up.

10.43am: Sogo – Another three men, carrying backpacks, are picked up from around the area. One, a heavily built man with a long goatee, appears to be wearing a Bernama press tag. Approached later, the Bernama reporter said he was let off once the police were satisfied with his explanation. He said he was questioned because he was holding a walkie-talkie. The other two however was brought up a truck.

10.45am: Kampung Baru – Yet another group of people are being detained, including one male who was in possession of a Bersih T-shirt. He was not placed with the other detainees and brought elsewhere for questioning.

10.55am: Stadium Merdeka – Police have closed off the Maharajalela and Hang Tuah monorail stations, which is the closest to the stadium.

10.56am: KTM railway station – About 100 police are manning the entrance leading to the national mosque. Some Pakatan Rakyat supporters are being asked the reason for their presence there.

10.58am: Brickfields – PAS Gombak Youth chief Syarhan Humaizy is taken by several plainclothes police officers at a restaurant near YMCA in Brickfields. They and several other PAS supporters were picked by cops who were checking restaurants and questioning suspected protesters. The rest of the Syarhan entourage escaped the dragnet and are moving towards Stadium Merdeka via Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

11am: IPK KL - A Bukit Aman source said that more than 100 people have been arrested this morning so far.

11.04am: Hang Tuah LRT station is now closed for “security reasons”.

11.10am: KLCC – No evidence to claims that tear gas was used at protestors here. Weekend shoppers are seen going about their business as usual.

11.12am: Sogo – Police trucks are filling up fast. Another three men are being processed after they were detained around Masjid India. One of the men, from Alor Setar, says that police searched his bag and found yellow T-shirt. ”Put in my photo, splash it a bit (Bubuh gambar saya, biar besar sikit),” he grins before being told told to get into the truck.

11.25am: According to sources, Pakatan Rakyat leaders are moving into the city centre.

11.30am: Royal Malaysian Police Facebook page says that as of 11am, 236 people have been arrested – 228 men, eight women.

11.35am: Tension rising at the old KTM station. The police are trying to disperse the crowd gathered on platforms inside the building. The crowd is chanting “God is great” and remain in defiance of the police. At least six people have been arrested within the vicinity since morning.

11.34am: Masjid Jamek – A young man who has a yellow Bersih 2.0 T-shirt in his bag arrested in front of the McDonald restaurant.

From 10.50am until now, the total number of those arrested in this area is close to 40. They are carted away in a police truck as well as a police van. Anticipating more arrests, the police call in another truck to serve as their temporary remand room.

The heavy-guarded Masjid Jamek LRT station is still operating and commuters are still streaming into the area.

The number of journalists, both local and foreign, have risen to 50.

11.44am: The biggest crowd is in both the vicinity of Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara. However, the gates into Masjid Jamek are locked while police are not allowing anyone near Masjid Negara, confining most of the people in the old KTM station.

11.47am: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin sends a tweet saying that his Patriot group will be gathering in Jalan Bukit Bintang at 1pm. “Pahang Umno Youth chief Abu Jimi has been arrested by the police in Putra bus station.”

11.50am: Azmin Ali sends tweet – Saya sudah berjaya tiba di ‘forbidden city of KL’ (I have successfully entered the forbidden city of KL). PKR deputy president Azmin is one of the 91 individuals banned by a court order from the protest area.

11.45am: Sogo – A woman is seen pleading with the police to release her husband who was picked up as they were shopping at Haniffa Textile. ”The police asked me to take a taxi, but there are no taxis here,” said the franctic woman as the police truck with her husband inside pulled away.

11.55am: Old KTM station – Many people are still loitering on the middle platform of the train station. Those asked to leave are seen exiting over a pedestrian bridge near the Syariah Court. More than a dozen have been arrested in this area. The police are very rough in handling suspects. One is grabbed by the neck. The second police truck filled with those arrested leaves for the police station.

A team of Light Strike Force is lining up, preparing to move into the KTM station to disperse the crowd.

11.58am: Petaling Street – About 50 people are gathered in smaller clusters along the market street, believed to be protestors. However, none clad in yellow.

12.01pm: Old KTM headquarters – A public service announcement said that Komuter trains are facing delays because the authorities are conducting checks on passengers.

12.10pm: Masjid Jamek – MPSJ councillor Michael Tamil and Mohd Hafifudin, who is chairperson of Bumiputera Hawkers Association Masjid India, are monitoring the Masjid India market area.

“I’m here to see how much are the losses of the hawkers because of people not coming in,” said an annoyed Hafifudin.

“If the hawkers suffer due to road closure, who should they claim their losses from? They should claim from the government,” he told Malaysiakini when met at Bazaar Jalan Melayu.

Almost all the stalls and shops here are closed.
The same announcement also urged those without tickets to leave the area.

12.15pm: PAS headquarters on Jalan Raja Laut appears very quiet with only about 50 people outside, including former PAS information chief Misbahul Munir. Four police patrol cars are parked 50 meters away, with about 15 police officers. A group of Special Branch men are mingling with the crowd, some watching from afar.

12.17pm: According to the police Facebook page, they are dispelling Bersih 2.0′s Twitter claims that there was a clash between protestors and the police at KLCC and that tear gas was used.

12:20pm: IPK KL – A total of 338 people have been arrested – 321 males and 17 females. They were picked up around Dataran DBKL, Istana Negara, Pasar Seni, Kampung Baru and Masjid Jamek.

12.21pm: Former KTM headquarters – Police have locked up toilets in the building.

12.23pm: Masjid Jamek – Although hardly any shop is open, many people are loitering around the back lanes of Little India, waiting for the time to act. The police continue to comb the back lanes, checking the bags foe signs of potential protesters. ”They asked us to open our bag, suspecting there is bomb inside,” said an angry middle-aged Malay woman from Klang after hers was inspected by four uniformed police officers.

“Why can’t we just sit here? This is our human right,” said another woman who is also from Klang.

12.30pm: KL Sentral – Pakatan Rakyat leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anthony Loke and Saifuddin Nasution are at Hilton Hotel, located in the building. They are expected to hold a press conference soon. All of them are on the list of 91 individuals forbidden to enter Kuala Lumpur.

12.31pm: KL Sentral – PAS vice-presidents Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub have been detained.

12.32pm: Masjid Jamek – MPSJ councillor Michael Tamil and Mohd Hafifudin, who is chairperson of Bumiputera Hawkers Association Masjid India, are monitoring the Masjid India market area. ”I’m here to see how much are the losses of the hawkers because of people not coming in,” said an annoyed Hafifudin. ”If the hawkers suffer due to road closure, who should they claim their losses from? They should claim from the government,” he told Malaysiakini when met at Bazaar Jalan Melayu. Almost all the stalls and shops here are closed.

12.34pm: About 1,000 people are moving from the old KTM station towards Dataran Merdeka. They are warned by the Federal Reserve Unit to disperse.

12.40pm: Official police update: As of 12 noon, 441 people have been arrested – 421 males and 20 females.

12.42pm: Old KTM station – Suhakam commissioner James Nayagam said they are concerned about the mass arrests. ”Police said they will be detained at Pulapol (Police Training Centre). We are monitoring the arrests and express our concern,” he said. Nayagam, however, does not want to comment whether the police were rough in their actions against the suspects.

Next : Chronology Of Bersih 9 July Afternoon

Source : MalaysiaKini

Technorati Tags: 9 july, bersih, bersih 2, bersih chronology, bersih event, bersih live report

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad has won the Bagan Pinang by-election by a landslide of 5,435 votes, snapping its losing streak in peninsula Malaysia since Election 2008.

The huge margin of victory will give Umno in particular a big boost, which it hopes will mark the party’s revival.

BN retained the Bagan Pinang state seat after Isa polled 8,013 votes to 2,578 votes for Negri Sembilan PAS chief Zulkefly Omar. The margin of victory was more than double BN’s win in last year’s elections.

When met by reporters after his victory was announced, Isa said: “This is a sign of a good beginning, the Chinese, the Indians, and also the Malays are now supporting BN”.

Today’s results will also mark the return of Isa to active politics since his suspension from Umno in 2005.

A mentri besar for 22 years, he left the state administration after the 2004 general elections to become the federal territories minister. But he resigned from the government after he was suspended from Umno for his involvement in vote buying — a widespread practice which the party is trying to curb through a constitutional amendment expected to be passed early next week.

Early analyses suggest BN won in all polling streams, and wrested back the Indian votes it lost last year. Indian votes were seen as significant because they accounted for 20 per cent of the electorate.

Umno officials say the turnaround suggests Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s intense courtship of Indians contributed to their support for BN here.

The party also made gains in the crucial postal votes from army personnel. Isa took 3,521 postal votes while Zulkefly received just 601 votes. Last year the postal votes tally was 3,080-1,189 in BN’s favour.

Umno will be hoping today’s victory, which was expected, can be the catalyst for the party’s revival of fortunes. The party ran an efficient campaign by rallying around Isa’s popularity in the constituency.

Umno’s party machinery has been energised in anticipation of today’s win and leaders will be hoping this will put it in good stead to stop Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) momentum.

Still, the election of a tainted politician, who won on his personal popularity in a small state seat, is likely to reinforce negative perceptions of Umno nationally. A recent poll by the independent Merdeka Centre showed a majority of voters in peninsular Malaysia did not approve of the candidacy.

With Isa’s win, Umno may find it harder to shake off the image many Malaysians have of them as being tainted by corruption.

But Najib will be hoping that a reenergised Umno and an improving economy will be enough to swing the pendulum back in favour of Umno and BN by the time the next general elections are called.

Source : The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: bagan pinang, barisan nasional, bn, by-election, pas, result, umno

The upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election is the best chance for Barisan Nasional (BN) to end the opposition’s winning streak, but the ruling coalition is starting off on a defensive note.

In an all too familiar scenario, Umno yet again enters the campaign defending its choice of candidate.

It picked former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad to contest the by-election.

Isa, 59, is popular with the grassroots but is tainted, having been suspended for three years from Umno for buying votes during the 2004 party elections.

By picking Isa, Umno is seen as riding roughshod over public sentiment.

The by-election was called after a former Umno assemblyman died last month. Polling will take place on Oct 11.

Umno was also on the defensive in the last by-election in Penang when it fielded a disbarred lawyer. It lost that round.

Its leaders are trying to paint the choice of Isa as that of the people of this coastal constituency in Negri Sembilan.

“The people of Bagan Pinang and Teluk Kemang, and not only Umno but people of all races, wanted him,” Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

Few would disagree that Isa has what it takes to win. He has a loyal base of support in the area.

An Umno divisional leader told The Straits Times that the party could not afford to lose after six consecutive losses in by-elections in the peninsula since last year’s general election.

“The party is fragile now,” he said.

It is thus reluctant to take a risk even though the demographics of the seat heavily favour the BN.

Of the 13,600 voters, 4,600 are postal voters from a nearby army camp. Postal votes are a safe vote bank for the BN.

The remaining 9,000 voters are divided into 63 per cent Malays, 21 per cent Indians, 11 per cent Chinese, and the rest classified as others.

Umno won the seat in last year’s general election with a majority of 2,333 votes.

Analyst Ong Kian Ming, who specialises in electoral politics, said 63 per cent of the Malay vote then went to the BN, excluding the postal votes.

As for the non-Malays, the BN picked up 42 per cent of the votes.

The high level of Malay support and large number of postal votes are factors that favour Umno.

But it is clear that Umno does not want to take any chances.

Its pledge to reform has suddenly started to ring hollow, say critics.

“Malaysians shook their heads in dismay at Isa’s nomination,” said veteran opposition MP Lim Kit Siang.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who strongly opposed the choice of Isa, said he will not be campaigning for the BN.

“Well, he is the party nominee… My personal feelings do not count,” he said.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, an MP in Negri Sembilan, said the party has to be proactive in countering the inevitable backlash.

“He has paid the penalty. There must be some rehabilitation,” he said.

He also pointed out that the opposition cannot take the moral high ground because it, too, has tainted leaders.

Isa will be up against Negri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, 44.

A Parti Keadilan Rakyat divisional leader, Shahruddin Abdul Hamid, 52, plans to contest as an independent.

Source : The Straits Times

Technorati Tags: bn, by-election, former menteri besar, negeri sembilan, pasbagan pinang, umno

PAS’s Mohd Salleh Man has won the Permatang Pasir state vote here in Penang by a big majority of 4,551 votes.

Official results show Mohd Salleh polled 9,618 votes while Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Rohaizat Othman received 5,067 votes.

The win for PAS was widely expected as the seat is within Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary stronghold.

Despite a massive onslaught by BN/Umno that was marked by heightened racial rhetoric, Rohaizat’s campaign had been a disaster from day one.

On nomination day, it was revealed that he was a disbarred lawyer because of misconduct involving a client’s funds amounting to RM161,000.

The entire campaign was dominated by the scandal with BN on the defensive.

But PAS’s majority yesterday, just short of last year’s 5,433 margin when the turnout was higher, suggest the status quo in terms of support for both PR and BN remains the same.

Yesterday’s turnout was 73.1 per cent compared to last year’s 82.57 per cent.

PAS’s handsome win also appears to indicate that in PR’s own backyard, they are unbeatable.

The win also comes despite Umno’s attempt to portray Anwar as a traitor to the Malays, while simultaneously playing the race and religion card.

If Permatang Pasir is any gauge, Umno’s attacks have not gained much traction on the ground except among its own core supporters.

The results of yesterday’s by-election suggest a hardening of support on both sides of the political divide as PAS’s relentless attacks on Rohaizat’s candidacy also did not seem to have gained the party more votes.

Yesterday’s win marks the seventh win out of eight by-elections PR has contested in since the March 2008 general elections.

Most of the contests had been in PR-held seats, while the one vote in which BN won was in Batang Ai in Sarawak, which the ruling coalition had held.

Source : The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: bn, by-election, pas, permatang pasir, result, umno

The Manik Urai state by-election scheduled for July 14 will see a straight fight between PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah, 50, and Barisan Nasional candidate Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat, 39.

Tuan Aziz, accompanied by about 10,000 supporters led by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, filed his papers at 9.05am, just minutes after the nomination centre at the Dewan Petra, Sekolah Menengah Sultan Yahya Petra 1 here was opened at 9am.

Mohd Fauzi, 50, also with about 10,000 supporters led by PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, submitted his papers at 9.17am.

Returning Officer Adnan Hussin received the nomination papers.

Parti Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (AKIM) president Hanafi Mamat, who was said to be contesting in the by-election, did not turn up for the nomination process.

The by-election is being held following the death of incumbent assemblyman Ismail Yaacob of PAS on May 22 of a heart attack.

In the 2008 general election, Ismail won the seat with a majority of 1,352 votes, beating BN’s Mohamed Zulkifli Omar.

This is the first by-election in Kelantan and the sixth in the country after the 12th general election in March last year.

Both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) enter the Manek Urai campaign today knowing full well that it will test their credentials with perhaps the most important demographic group in the country.

Rural Malays make up over 99 per cent of the 12,300 registered voters in the state seat and as fate would have it, Ismail Yaacob’s death on May 22 came at an awkward time for both coalitions.

The assemblyman’s demise has sparked a by-election that will take place against a backdrop of months of mutual mudslinging over alleged betrayal of Malay-Muslim interests.

Umno had taken advantage of the crisis triggered by its Feb 5 power grab in Perak to accuse the ousted PAS-led government of “derhaka,” or treason, against the decision of the Sultan in appointing a new mentri besar.

It also accused Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin of being a puppet MB to the Chinese-majority DAP in the state, a strategy that appeared to win back some Malay support in the Bukit Gantang by-election there, although BN was beaten as non-Malays backed Nizar strongly.

In recent months, PAS’s internal battle over proposed unity government talks with Umno has also led to Umno insinuating that PAS was not serious about Malay-Muslim issues.

That Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat was the strongest critic within PAS of any talks, which may have led to his recent attempts to hit back at Umno over Malay issues.

The PAS spiritual adviser likened the secular Malay party to communists and accused them of rejecting Islam.

Nik Aziz has also challenged Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to a debate on why Umno has “rejected Islam and embraced nationalism, and what is wrong with the policy implemented by PAS, especially in Kelantan.”

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang too has recently criticised Prime Minister Najib’s decision to take away Bumiputera quotas in the capital market, and argued that Malays were still weak and needed help.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also sowed seeds of doubt among the Malays when he claimed that Najib was implementing measures that had caused him to be labelled a traitor to Malays and a Chinese agent when PR had first proposed similar economic liberalisation.

These policies and Najib’s still vague 1 Malaysia concept have led to anxiety within Umno that in trying to win back non-Malay support, it has inadvertently offended its traditional support base of rural Malays.

Source : Bernama and The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: barisan nasional, by-election, manik urai, pas

Malaysia’s leader has said the ruling coalition may sit out an upcoming by-election sparked by the resignation of an opposition lawmaker, decrying it as a political ploy and a waste of public funds.

Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted by the Sunday Star as saying that he would meet leaders of his National Front coalition at the end of the month to decide whether to contest the by-election in northern Penang state.

A lawmaker from former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim’s opposition alliance quit his state assembly seat recently following unsubstantiated allegations of corruption. A date for the ballot to fill the seat will be decided soon.

It will be the sixth by-election since the March 2008 national polls. The National Front is expected to come under pressure after the opposition won four of the previous five by-elections.

“We are not afraid of losing to them, but it is a sheer waste of public funds. Whatever decision we are to make, we will take into consideration whether it benefits the people,” Najib said in the report, slamming the resignation as a “clearly a political ploy.”

An aide to Najib confirmed his comments but did not give details.

Najib has said earlier that by-elections should only be held after an elected representative died, not resigned, as such polls were draining resources that should have been used to strengthen the economy.

Two of the five previous polls were called to fill vacancies caused by resignations of opposition lawmakers, while the rest were due to death of the incumbents.

The newspaper said the five by-elections have cost taxpayers 33.4 million ringgit ($9.3 million), the bulk of which was spent on deploying thousands of police to the area to ensure security.

The National Front governs with less than a two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in 40 years.

In the last by-elections, the opposition won two of three polls held simultaneously on April 7, dealing a blow to Najib shortly after he took power with pledges to carry out wide-ranging government and social reforms.

The results did not change the balance of power at the federal or state level but served as a referendum on Najib’s popularity. The National Front downplayed the loss, saying Najib has yet to make his mark.

Opposition leader Anwar welcomed Najib’s suggestion to sit out the Penang by-election, saying it would save effort and resources.

Source : AFP

Technorati Tags: anwar, barisan nasional, by-elections, election, najib, pakatan rakyat

Malaysia’s opposition won two of three by-elections held Tuesday, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Najib Razak who took power last week with pledges to carry out wide-ranging government and social reforms.

The results do not change the balance of power at federal or state level but serve as an unofficial referendum on Najib’s popularity. The ruling National Front coalition downplayed the loss, saying Najib was yet to make his mark.

“The feel-good factor from the power transition is still too new and has not sunk in,” Najib’s right-hand man, Muhyiddin Yasin, told reporters while conceding defeat.

“I am confident that when the new leadership begin their duties, and when reforms are implemented, it will convince the people,” said Muhyiddin, who is expected to be appointed deputy prime minister in the new Cabinet.

Najib is likely to announce his Cabinet either on Wednesday or Thursday.

Tuesday’s elections were held to fill a seat in Parliament from the Bukit Gantang constituency in the northern Perak state, and a seat each in the state parliaments of the northern Kedah state and Sarawak on Borneo island. The by-elections were to fill vacancies caused by two deaths and one resignation.

The National Front won the Sarawak race, but lost the other two. Bukit Gantang was won by Mohammad Jamaluddin Nizar of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, while Bukit Selambau was won by S. Manikumar of the People’s Justice Party.

The two parties are partners in the People’s Alliance coalition led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“Irrespective of the new PM, Malaysians still want change,” Anwar told reporters. “They (voters) are even stronger in their support” for the opposition than in the last elections, he said, referring to the increased margin of victories this time.

The People’s Alliance had shocked the National Front in the March 8, 2008, general elections, depriving it of a two-thirds majority for the first time in 40 years. With Tuesday’s result, the National Front will remain with 138 seats in the 222-member Parliament, while the People’s Alliance will have 81 seats. Three other members are independents.

Najib was chosen to lead the ruling party after it booted out former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, blaming him for the election losses. Najib has promised to restore the party’s popularity, fix the recession-hit economy and heal widening racial divisions in this multiethnic country, comprising the Malay Muslim majority and ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

The minorities complain of discrimination by the Malay-dominated government in jobs, education and religious rights. Also, most Malaysians, irrespective of race, are also angry at government corruption.

Ramon Navaratnam, chairman of the Center of Public Policy Studies think tank in Kuala Lumpur, said the results showed voters were as dissatisfied with the government as they were last year.

“If March 8 had not given (the National Front) a sufficiently strong wake up call, they better take heed of this shrill alarm call this time,” said Navaratnam. “If they don’t, they will have to sleep through until the next election shocks them out of complacency,” he said.

The National Front’s defeat in Perak state was expected. The coalition earned massive ill-will after it brought down the People’s Alliance government in Perak state earlier this year through defections.

Perak was one of the five states the alliance won in the March 2008 elections.

Source : Associated Press

Technorati Tags: batang ai, bn, bukit gantang, bukit selambau, by-election, pakatan rakyat, pas, pkr

Although the Jan 17 battle for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat is a three-cornered fight, it will boil down to a straight contest between Umno and the opposition Pas. And Umno is coming across as the underdog.

Observers could be forgiven for thinking this is a general election. Umno chieftains, led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, have descended on Terengganu’s sleepy capital on the shores of the South China Sea.

“There are more police here than locals, and there are even helicopters over the city,” said a Kuala Lumpur-based political analyst, who is in Kuala Terengganu to observe the campaign firsthand. “The Barisan Nasional is really throwing in resources here, showing off its power.”

The by-election comes at a crucial time for Umno, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 68, prepares to hand over the reins in March to Najib, 55.

Abdullah’s hand was forced after last year’s general election, in which the BN lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority and five states — its worst outing since independence.

Umno desperately needs to win Kuala Terengganu, not just to restore its credibility after its disastrous general election result but also to affirm that it alone is the true political champion of the ethnic Malays who make up 64 per cent of Malaysia’s population. Malays make up almost 90 per cent of the Kuala Terengganu electorate.

To a lesser extent, the by-election is viewed by many in the opposition as a referendum on Najib’s ascension, partly because he is leading the fight there. The deputy premier has downplayed the symbolism, but the opposition has made it a main campaign point.

One reason for this is the opposition is confident that it will win. Political analysts aren’t so sure, though, saying it will be a close race. But much is being made of Umno’s choice of candidate. The party’s Wan Farid, a senator and deputy home minister, used to be Abdullah’s political secretary and is a close friend of Khairy Jamaluddin, Abdullah’s controversial son-in-law.

Although born in Terengganu, Wan Farid generally lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, unlike his Pas rival in the by-election, who’s about as local as it gets. The Pas candidate, Abdul Wahid, is a five-time state assemblyman from Kuala Terengganu and a very popular figure in the area.

Wan Farid’s connections have not been lost on former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has labelled him the wrong man. “The choice of candidate by BN is bad because everybody sees him as just a proxy,” Dr Mahathir told reporters on Monday. “He is just someone to be used later on if Najib becomes prime minister.”

Dr Mahathir did not name the “user”, but it is clear to everyone that he was referring to either Abdullah or Khairy — both of whom he dislikes.

Umno officials privately admit that Dr Mahathir’s remarks are damaging and could hurt Wan Farid’s by-election chances.

There are 80,229 voters in the constituency. An analysis of the March 8 elections won by the late Datuk Razali Ismail of BN showed that 53 per cent of the Malay vote went to Pas while 64 per cent of the Chinese vote went to BN. Chinese voters make up nearly 11 per cent of the electorate.

The voter turnout on March 8 was 87 per cent.

Source: Business Times Singapore

Technorati Tags: barisan nasional, by-election, candidate, kuala terengganu, parliament, pas

There were no surprises today in the naming of Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as Barisan Nasional‘s (BN) candidate for the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election, but the controversies surrounding him and his close links with the prime minister will be campaign fodder for Pakatan Rakyat.

For Wan Farid, who is also Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief and the deputy home minister, his political career is riding on the election as he has been told that he will not be reappointed senator again if he loses the vote.

The Terengganu state assembly nominated the deputy home minister as senator recently as his first term ends in January.

The selection of Wan Ahmad Farid was announced by Deputy Prime Mnister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who said the decision had the consent of Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“For the candidate, the Umno president had taken all factors and opinions into consideration, and thus the BN now presents Datuk Wan Farid as its candidate for the P36 Kuala Terengganu by-election,” said Najib, who is also Umno deputy president.

Najib said Wan Farid, 46, who has been the Kuala Terengganu Umno division head for two terms, was the candidate whom the party leaders believed to be capable of retaining the parliamentary seat for the BN.

“I have had several discussions with the (Umno) president, I want to tell the president that I share his view in the selection of the candidate,” he said.

In addition, he said, other Umno leaders as well as the leaders of the other BN component parties, including from the Terengganu state itself, supported choice of Wan Farid.

“In a by-election, the candidate is among the factors that determines the party’s victory and we are confident that our candidate is capable of achieving victory on Jan 17,” he said.

He said the naming of the BN candidate early for this by-election instead of the usual announcement on the eve of nomination day, was intended to enable the chosen candidate to be closer to the constituents.

It would also give the BN time to tackle or resolve any problems that might arise, he said.

The election has gained significance because it comes just as BN appears to be regaining a stable foothold on power after months of uncertainty brought about by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim‘s threat to seize power through mass defections.

But his failure and the announcement that Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi will leave office in March has brought back some focus to the ruling coalition.

This will serve as a minor test of Najib’s leadership before he takes the reins of power in March.

Najib has said Barisan Nasional and Umno will have to win the by-election as proof of its revival after its dismal performance in the March 8 general election where it lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority together with four states and the mauling at the Permatang Pauh by-election that saw sacked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim make his political comeback.

But the choice of Wan Farid will ensure BN’s work remains cut out for them.

Wan Farid is a former political secretary to the prime minister.

But he is closely linked, through his elder brother Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, to the organising of the Monsoon Cup, the annual world-class sailing competition which has been heavily criticised because of its elitism and the perception that the event serves to benefit the politically-connected and not the state in general.

Pas, who are expected to be the main contender to BN for the seat, has already served notice that they will use the Monsoon Cup to attack their traditional rivals.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Technorati Tags: barisan nasional, candidate, election, kuala terengganu, umno