NOMINATION day in Kuala Terengganu dawned with clear skies instead of the usual morning drizzle common during the monsoon season.
With roadblocks in place, the police were at their stations on roads leading to the nomination centre at Stadium Negeri by 5am.
Supporters of the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat had gathered at their respective meeting points: the menteri besar’s residence at Seri Iman for the BN, and the Batu Bersurat roundabout for the opposition. Both marched for about one kilometre from opposite directions towards the stadium, where they were kept apart by a 100m buffer zone behind police barricades.
As the BN and PAS candidates filed into the stadium accompanied by their respective party VIPs, their supporters cheered and shouted from behind the lines, while Federal Reserve Unit personnel kept close watch.
Nominations proceeded without any scuffles breaking out on the street.
Politicians from both sides mingled and chatted like old friends in the stadium compound while waiting for the Election Commission returning officer to announce the official candidates.
At 11:35am, a three-corner fight was announced between the BN’s Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, 46, PAS’s Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut, 52, and independent Azharudin Mamat, 45.
Kuala Terengganu’s 80,229 voters will cast their ballots on 17 Jan 2009. 
See also: KT by-election battle begins
Devan says
Your pictures speak a thousand words … never trust the local Umno / MCA-controlled media!
Singam says
I am puzzled by the absence of reference to the climate and mood of supporters of the two major players, in particular, the numbers of supporters who turned up to cheer on their candidates. Is there some reason why The Nut Graph is refraining from reporting this?
Even if the reporter on the scene was not able to estimate the numbers with any accuracy, such information was available from other competent parties. Some pictures would have helped readers do their own estimates.
Singam says
My error. The numbers are quoted in the captions for the pictures.
Do feel free to publish both of my comments, or withhold them, as you see fit.