Watch a short video clip showing the arrival of both the candidates to the nomination centre and some interviews with several politicians on the potential outcome of the by-election.

Malaysiakini was also able to obtain comments as to why the opposition decided to boycott this by-election.

The by-election will be held on Jan 28 following the death of incumbent BN assemblyman Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan, 66, on Dec 27 due to cancer.

It will be a straight fight between Barisan Nasional's Abdul Aziz Kiram, 47, and Independent candidate Ng Chee Pang, a 21-year-old trader. Ng turns 22 next Monday.

Batu Talam has 10,525 registered voters, of whom 79 percent are Malays, 11 percent Chinese and 10 percent made up of Indian and Orang Asli voters.

Click here to watch

a five-minute video

.