LIVE CAMERONS POLL | The Cameron Highlands by-election campaign kicks off today which will see Pakatan Harapan attempting to create history by wresting the seat from BN for the first time.
BN has decided to break from tradition by not fielding a candidate from MIC in the contest and instead will field Ramli Mohd Nor, who is not a member of any BN coalition party.
Ramli, a local boy and former top cop, is currently the hot favourite to win the contest because he is expected to appeal to the Malay and Orang Asli, who collectively make up slightly over half the electorate.
Harapan will be fielding M Manogaran, a lawyer who is making his third attempt at winning the Cameron Highlands seat.
BN had won the Cameron Highlands seat by a sliver in 2013 and 2018, making this by-election one that will likely go down the wire as well.
Polling is on Jan 26 after a 14-day campaign.
LIVE reports of the nomination process as follow:
Local MIC chief: We're happy to give Orang Asli a chance
9.05am - Tanah Rata basketball court - Cameron Highlands MIC chief Ravee Nallian says his members are happy to “give a chance” to Orang Asli former top cop Ramli Mohd Nor to contest in the traditional MIC seat.
“The Orang Asli have supported BN for the last 60 years so we want to give them a chance to contest,” he tells Malaysiakini, adding that he was confident that the coalition will retain the seat.
Similarly, MIC Jelebu information chief P Appalanaidu says the party had no problem “loaning” the seat to a non-MIC candidate.
“I am confident it will be returned to MIC during the next general election,” he says.
The crowd of BN supporters has swelled to about 250 people.
BN candidate Ramli arrives
8.50am - Tanah Rata basketball court - BN's candidate Ramli Moh Nor, a former senior police officer, arrives as the crowd cheers.
Clad in a blue baju melayu and a songkok, he greets supporters before joining acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan and Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosy Wan Ismail.
Harapan begins march to nomination centre
8.45am - Tanah Rata - The Pakatan Harapan crowd grows to over 300 people.
Bersatu secretary-general Marzuki Yahya joins the crowd shortly before they begin the 1km march to the nomination centre at SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Traffic is building up on the main road and the Harapan supporters decide to march to the school through the inner road, past the field where the BN supporters are gathered.
The two groups are separated by a field and a monsoon drain, around 300 metres apart.
They chant “Pakatan! Harapan!” and “Lawan tetap lawan” as they march to the school.
Meanwhile, the BN crowd also grows to more than 200 people as Umno Wanita chief Noraini Ahmad and Umno vice president Mahdzir Khalid join them.
Many supporters are carrying blue BN-themed umbrellas and fans distributed by BN Cameron Highlands volunteers.
The BN supporters appear to be in no hurry as their gathering site is immediately next door to the nomination centre.
Manogaran arrives
8.30am - Tanah Rata bus terminal - Pakatan Harapan's candidate M Manogaran arrives at the rally site.
More Pakatan Harapan leaders and supporters also arrive as their number grows to around 150 people.
Other leaders who are also present include PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP national vice-chairperson M Kula Segaran.
Meanwhile, a number BN supporters are seen walking across the road from the Harapan gathering to get to their meeting point.
The two groups do not acknowledge each other apart from the wary looks and occasional pictures.
A Harapan supporter told Malaysiakini that they will be marching to the school via the main road which means they will not pass by the BN supporters gathered at the field.
MIC and MCA turn out in force despite strained BN ties
8:15am - Tanah Rata basketball court - MIC members turn out in force despite having to make way to a non-party member in this by-election.
Walking with them is Umno Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan.
The spirited group of MIC members shout “Hidup MIC! Hidup BN!”.
Cameron Highlands is traditionally a MIC seat but it made way for direct BN candidate Ramli Mohd Nor to contest in the by-election.
Earlier, MCA members were seen distributing button badges with the words “sehati sejiwa” (one heart and one soul) bearing the logos of Umno, MCA and MIC.
MCA ties within BN had been strained after the party called for the coalition's dissolution after its defeat in the 14th general election.
However, the party appear to be mobilising all its resources in support of BN for this by-election.
Also present are Umno supreme member Lokman Adam and Umno acting deputy president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Harapan gathers at bus terminal
8.00am - Tanah Rata bus terminal - Some 20 Pakatan Harapan supporters gather at a parking lot here.
The location is around 1km away from the nomination centre at SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Many more supporters are spotted having breakfast at a nasi kandar restaurant across the street. Among them are DAP's senator Liew Chin Tong and PKR's Seberang Jaya assemblyperson.
Meanwhile, around 30 more Harapan supporters gather behind the bus terminal, where several leaders are also present, including DAP deputy chairperson Gobind Singh, DAP Pahang chief Leong Ngah Ngah and Amanah secretary-general Anuar Tahir.
Breakfast for BN
7.45am - Tanah Rata basketball court - About 50 BN supporters gather under two white tents at the basketball adjacent to SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah, where the nomination process will take place.
The supporters are helping themselves to a breakfast buffet prepared by Cameron Highlands BN.
BN's candidate Ramli Mohd Nor has yet to turn up.
There is considerable police presence including two light strike force trucks. - Mkini
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