BUKIT MERTAJAM, 16 Aug 2008: Over 10,000 Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters accompanied their respective candidates to the nomination centre for the Permatang Pauh by-election at the Tuanku Bainun Teaching Institute in Mengkuang here, which opened at 9am today.
Supporters carrying flags and banners started converging on the place as early as 6.30am and were allowed into the field near Dewan Aminuddin Baki, the venue for submission of nominations, at 8.15am.
Supporters of PR — which comprises Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and DAP —
accompanying PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, were the first to be allowed in. They assembled in an area reserved for them, shouting “Allahu Akbar” and “hidup Anwar”, waving their respective parties’ banners.
BN supporters were allowed in at 8.30am together with their candidate, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and other BN leaders.
The Permatang Pauh by-election is being held following the resignation of its MP, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, on 31 July to make way for her husband, Anwar, to contest the seat. Polling is on 26 Aug 2008. – Bernama
