Police had lined the perimeter of the Kajang by-election nomination centre as well as in front of supporters of PKR and BN on Tuesday to “prevent any incident”.

“That was only for prevention to avoid incident. Prevention is better than cure,” Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( left ) said.

He said that police had first anticipated a “hostile” environment due to plans by “some personalities” to contest but things turned out to be very calm.

PKR had initially wanted to field its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim but had to replace him with party president and Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail when Anwar lost eligibility after being convicted of sodomy last Friday.

Anwar’s proposed candidature caused several of his foes to announce that they would also contest but all pulled out, resulting in a straight fight between Wan Azizah and BN’s Chew Mei Fun.

On Tuesday, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli fumed at police over the dannert wire which he said was akin to how Israeli forces treat Palestinians.

'PKR's woes will drag on'

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who spoke to media after a briefing with police on the Kajang by-election deployment, said Anwar's ineligibility to contest in Kajang means PKR's internal woes will drag on.

 

He said PKR deputy president and Selangor chief Azmin Ali ( right ) said has "high ambitions to be Menteri Besar" and Anwar's entrance into the state legislative assembly was to thwart that.

 

"But when this (conviction) happened, the goal of solving the internal crisis was not reached.

 

"Neither I or BN want to interfere in their internal matters, let them solve it or continue to fight among themselves," he said.

 

He was asked on Azmin's admission yesterday that the Kajang Move - PKR's willful triggering of the Kajang by-election through incumbent Lee Chin Cheh's resignation - was to have Anwar replace Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

 

Interestingly, Khalid is PKR director for the Kajang by-election which will take place on Mar 23.