LIVE: Candidates to file papers for mother of all polls

LIVE REPORTS

8.20am: Padang Polo, Penang Caring Society - Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow and about 300 supporters gather at Padang Polo in the Bukit Bendera constituency.

Half of the crowd comprises Umno Wanita members who came on school buses.

Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abd Rahim and veteran Umno division leader Ahmad Ismail, who is known for his controversial remake of "Pendatang" in 2008, also turn up to show their support to BN candidates.

Teng is contesting the Tanjung Bungah state seat under Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat. A multiple-cornered fight is expected but his main opponent is expected to be DAP's candidate Zairil Khir Johari, who will stand under the PKR logo.

8.16am: Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur - A group of about 350 gather at the carpark next to the KWSP office.

Yew Teong Look, the MCA candidate, told journalists that he had a discussion with Mohd Shafei Abdullah, the Wangsa Maju Umno division chief, and he agreed to send 1,000 people today.

“This election will be a major challenge for us and I will do my best. As we have more humanpower for the campaign this time, I think we stand a better chance for victory,” said Yew.

8.10am: Institute Kemahiran Belia, Bukit Mertajam - Four women, who are supporters of PKR, sit on the curb, waiting for their candidates, to arrive. One of the women says, "We can win as Pakatan Harapan voters are many."

A sea of green has arrived at the nomination centre. PAS candidates, in their green baju melayu, followed by their supporters, carrying the party's flags, marched to the centre while shouting "Allah hu Akhbar".

Permatang Pauh candidate Afnan Hamimi said he reserves his comment until after the nomination process is over.  PAS supporters wait outside the centre as their candidates enter the building.

8am: Batu Pahat fire department - Over 200 BN supporters are gathered under canopies pitched at the parking lot of the district fire department, having breakfast and taking shade from the morning sun.

Not among the crowd is disgruntled Batu Pahat Umno chief Puad Zarkashi, who is widely expected to contest as an independent candidate for the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat.

Senggarang Barat Umno polling district chief Saari Bidin says it is sad that Puad is not here, but states that voters want a new and friendlier face to represent BN in Batu Pahat.

"That's the kind of person the candidate Haliza Abdullah is... I'm sure those voters who were upset with BN in 2013 will come back to vote for us now," Saari tells Malaysiakini.

He says there were teachers in Batu Pahat who did not vote for the coalition in the last polls.

Malaysiakini understands that the teachers had gone against BN in protest to the transfer of several teachers for allegedly supporting the opposition.

7.40am: Bukit Antarabangsa, Selangor - According to Berita Harian, controversial celebrity Azwan Ali was at the nomination centre at 7.15am.

He is contesting in Bukit Antarabangsa state seat against his brother, caretaker Selangor menteri besar Azmin Ali.

7.30am: Bukit Mertajam, Penang - Flags from several parties - BN, PKR, PAS and PRM lined the road leading to the nomination centre.

The candidates or their supporters are nowhere to be seen near here as they gather at different meeting points. Supporters from the various parties will march in solidarity with their candidates to the center before 9am.

Nomination opens from 9am to 10am. The candidates are expected to be:

P44 - Permatang Pauh
BN - Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said
PH - Nurul Izzah Anwar
PAS - Ust. Afnan Taib Azamudeen

N10 - Seberang Jaya
BN - Abu Bakar Sidekh Zainul Abidin
PH - Dr Afif Bahardin
PAS - Ahmad Rafie A Rashid

N11 - Permatang Pasir
BN - Anuar Faisal Yahaya
PH - Muhammad Faiz Fadzil
PAS - Muhammad Fauzi Yusof

N12 Penanti
BN - Suhaimi Sabudin
PH - Norlela Ariffin
PAS - Fawwaz Mohd Jan

7:25am: Kubang Pasu, Kedah - A group of about 50 Pakatan Harapan supporters are seen gathering outside SJK (T) Ladang Paya Kamunting, which is a short walk away from the Kubang Pasu District Office that serves as its namesake parliamentary constituency's nomination centre.

The three of them are standing on top of a lorry to distribute T-shirts, and the vehicle also carries other supplies such as bottled water, button pins, and PKR flags. They are scheduled to begin their march at 8am, well ahead of the opening of the nomination centre at 9am.

Kubang Pasu is a BN stronghold that has been held by the coalition since its creation in 1974. It was former premier, now Pakatan Harapan leader, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's seat for seven consecutive terms.

The incumbent Mohd Johari Baharum, who is also the caretaker minister of defence, is slated to defend his seat against PAS' Norhafiza Fadzil and Bersatu's Amiruddin Hamzah.

However, another highlight at this nomination centre is Kedah Pakatan Harapan chief Mukhriz Mahathir, who will be contesting at the Jitra state seat here against the BN incumbent Amiruddin Omar and PAS's Zulhazmi Osman.

Mukhriz is expected to submit his nomination papers here, and then make the rush to the Jerlun nomination centre about 15 minutes' drive away to submit his nomination papers for the neighbouring Jerlun parliamentary seat.

Clear skies are forecasted throughout Kedah for this morning with a maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. For now, however, both the temperature and the atmosphere remains cool.

7.16am - Nomination day for the “mother of all” elections is here.

An estimated of 2,000 candidates for 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats, excluding Sarawak, would submit their nomination papers to contest in the 14th general election.

Most of the seats are expected to see three-cornered or multi-cornered fights.

The 222 nomination centres are mostly located at district offices, land offices, community halls and school halls nationwide.

The nomination period starts at 9am and ends an hour later. Following which, the EC returning officer will deliberate on any objection raised and officially declare the contestants for the respective seats.

In the run-up to the last general election in 2013, former Election Commission chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said candidates had missed the nomination period during previous polls due to oversleeping, being caught in a traffic jam and getting lost.

He also cited how there were candidates disqualified for misspelling their names on the nomination forms and even forgetting to bring along their deposits.

Candidates vying for parliament seats would have to fork out RM10,000 in deposit whereas those contesting state seats, RM5,000. Whereas an additional RM5,000 and RM3,000 must be paid respectively for campaign material.

Candidates would lose their deposit if they fail to obtain one-eighth of the total votes cast.

BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak will lead the ruling BN coalition in his second general election.

This election will also witness Pakatan Harapan candidates, including its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, contesting under a single logo – PKR's “eye” symbol.

This is the first general election since 1969 that DAP has agreed not to use its iconic "rocket" logo in the peninsula.

Once the nomination is over, the candidates would immerse themselves in campaigning for 11 days until the stroke of midnight on May 8. The following day, Malaysians would cast their ballots.

[More to follow] -Mkini