FREE BY-ELECTIONS What’s happening in the by-election campaigns in the parliamentary constituency of Batu Sapi and the Galas state seat? Quotable quotes, planned events and unplanned incidences as they occur in P185 and N45.

10.30am: When approached in the VIPs' tent in front of the nomination centre in Galas, PAS spiritual advisor Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat ( below, in white jubbah ) hit out at those who had started the smear campaign against the Islamic party's candidate Dr Zulkefli Mohamed:

"We have to teach them. If they are those with open hearts, we can communicate with them even with eye gestures.

"But if their mentality is like slaves, (if) they are evil people, they must be whipped, only then will they learn. Whip them in the courts.

"Well, if they want to accuse, they can accuse. They can even accuse him of murder. But is it true?

"If it is not, he can bring the matter to the courts. I would agree if the matter is brought to the courts."

11am: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin denied Tengku Razaleigh overshadows the BN candidate Abdul Aziz Yusof ( below ) in the Galas by-election campaign.

"Ku Li is very respected in Gua Musang as he has been serving here for long. We welcome him and you cannot ignore him.

"But our candidate also has his own strength. If we have the support of Ku Li, of course it will be a bonus for us and Gua Musang people," he said.

The Rembau MP also took a shot at PAS for questioning the educational background of Abdul Aziz.

"Even in the Manek Urai by-election, where our candidate had a better educational background - we did not attack the PAS candidate," he said. The issue of qualifications will not be a setback for BN in this campaign.

11.40am: Kelantan BN liaison chief Mustapa Mohamad spoke to Malaysiakini on why Gua Musang MP Razaleigh Hamzah did not join BN supporters in the VIPs’ area after sending their Galas candidate to the nomination centre compound.

"He made the decision to be with the people outside."

Informed that Razaleigh had left for home, Mustapha then changed his tune.

“He is resting lah . That is normal, everything is already over, with no problems. He said that if there are any problems, then I (should) call him."

He denied Razaleigh's absence portended Umno infighting.

"No, No, No, this morning he led BN here, he was around until 10.30am. Most people here are outsiders - not voters. There is no need for him to be here."

1.56pm: Kelantan exco Husam Musa questioned the high cost of building the People's Housing Project (PPR) that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched last Saturday.

"The price is too high - RM120,000 - for (each unit measuring) 700 square feet for 18 five-story blocks.

"In Kelantan, the most expensive (PPR) flats are, I think, RM50,000 or RM60,000 per unit.

Husam ( above, blue shirt ) also cynically suggested there be an additional 2,000 units built in order to accomodate the high demands for such PPR flats.

"Then the Chinese (who are the only ones who can afford it) can get the units, their (current) homes would be vacant, and they can sell to others," said Husam.

"(This PPR project) doesn't make sense."

2pm : PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Ansari Abdullah went on a walkabout at Bandar Leila, Batu Sapi, around the Nan Tung shophouses and port area.

3pm: Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek visited the Brooke Post Orang Asli community, Galas, in a meet-and-greet session with youth and community leaders.

DAP Perak state chief Ngeh Koo Ham and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders went to Kampung Gua Musang, a Chinese-majority area for a walkabout.

4.05pm: Umno Gua Musang said the party will raise the khalwat issue against the PAS candidate Dr Zulkefli Mohamad in the by-election campaign starting today.

Its information chief Muhamad Bustaman Ibrahim claimed the party has "proof" that the PAS candidate had been arrested for close proximity with another woman not his wife based on "reports that can be trusted and accepted".

He added, however, that details of the proof were in the midst of being gathered to back up the allegations.

"We want to compare our candidate (Abdul Aziz Yusof) with PAS' candidate. Although their candidate is a doctor, we look at things also from the aspect of morality," Bustaman told Malaysiakini when contacted. 

4.30pm: Immediately after nominations ended, BN election workers were dispatched to put up flags and propaganda material all over Batu Sapi, especially along Jalan Batu Sapi which is the main thoroughfare for the area.

Only one or two SAPP flags were seen as at 4.30pm, while no PKR flags were seen so far.

5pm: Galas PAS candidate Dr Zulkefli Mohamad ( below, next to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ) held a press conference at PAS' Gua Musang headquarters - his maiden press conference after his candidacy was confirmed. 

6.30pm: PAS candidate for Galas Dr Zulkefli Mohamad visited the Guan Di Temple near Kampung Baru, Gua Musang.

Accompanied by PKR Chinese campaigners, he shook hands with the Chinese residents there and urged them to vote for him.

Earlier, he held his maiden PC in PAS markas and talked about his plan should he be elected.

"If I win in Galas, I will make sure the development projects implement as promised by the state government." 

7.30pm: Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Pasir Pinji state assemblyperson Thomas Su and Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham spoke in a ceramah at DAP campaign centre, Galas.

8pm: On the Batu Sapi campaign trail, Yong Teck Lee arrived at the second bumiputera kampung tonight - Kampung Lupak Meluas Darat. 

The small ceramah was done in the living room of a villager's house, on the second floor. The room was fully packed with around 50 villagers, all bumiputera.

They chanted "SAPP boleh!" when led by Yong.

Then at Kg Karamunting Baru, Yong blamed political parties from the peninsular for bringing "bad political culture" to Sabah, referring to both BN and PKR.

He said PKR kept on having internal problems, that their Sabah leaders even "bertumbuk di airport" (came to blows at the airport) to get Anwar's endorsement to become the candidate.

"That's why SAPP can 'kawan tetapi tidak mahu kahwin' (be friends but not marry) Pakatan.

"Do Sabahans need to kahwin to get assistance? Who owns the oil? Who owns the land? Who owns the fish?"

His questions were strongly answered by around 50 villagers, mostly bumiputera with "Sabah!"

He called on voters to support SAPP to bring back the dignity of Sabahans. 

10pm : In Galas, Tengku Razaleigh went on a walkabout in Kampung Baru, one of two polling districts there with a Chinese majority.

He spent about 40 minutes speaking with about a dozen customers at a restaurant and shared some Chinese tea with them.

Workers at Kim Kee restaurant, clad in 1Malaysia-themed uniforms, gave him a pleasant welcome.

The restaurant was already operating past their business hours, but still attended to him.

He was chatty and animated when speaking to them.

BN candidate Abdul Aziz Yusof also dropped by to greet and shake hands with the villagers.

1130pm: Opposition leader and PKR De Facto leader Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Galas and kicked off two ceramah in two Malay majority areas.

Without wasting time, Anwar hit out at BN, in particular Umno Youth, for being arrogant, corrupt and "biadab".

"I am really angry when Umno Youth lodged the police report against Tok Guru (Kelantan Mentri Besar) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat).

"We are Malay, even we don't share the same political views, we don't fitnah the others."

Despite a drizzle in Galas, a 250 strong crowd turned out to listen to the charismatic leader's speech.

PAS national chairman Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS candidate Zulkifli Mohamed and DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua were also there.