The nomination process for the Ijok by-election in Selangor was marred by a scuffle between supporters of Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition this morning.


 <img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="146" hspace="5" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/81/d76fa66e28c7b8dc0aa2679004dabe40.gif" style="WIDTH: 219px; HEIGHT: 146px" width="219"/>
 Things got out of hand when the nomination period ended at 10am, after Barisan Nasional's K Parthiban and Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Khalid Ibrahim filed their papers.


 The rain, which had the two groups of supporters soaking wet, failed to deter them from mocking each other outside the nomination centre at Dewan Orang Ramai Batang Berjuntai, near Ijok.


 Some 2,000 opposition supporters began shouting "BN corrupt!", to which the 5,000 or so BN supporters responded with chants of "Sodomy!"


 <img align="left" height="204" hspace="5" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/81/c1b72673a1e421699837bb2866900756.jpg" width="320"/>
 In an obvious reference to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, opposition supporters also rendered songs that highlighted the murder of Mongolian national Altantunya Shaaribuu as well as defence contracts.


 They even carried a banner with a picture of the Mongolian woman accompanied by these words
 
 Rakyat Mongolia kirim salam. Mereka kata jaga nama baik negara
 
 (People of Mongolia send their regards. They say 'look after the good name of the country').


 
 
 FRU deployed
 
 


 The BN supporters were led by Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin while PKR vice-president Azmin Ali (
 
 left
 
 ) led the charge on the other side.


 <img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="238" hspace="5" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/81/a0a7b97cc679e49358de06fd3b5d6fd7.jpg" style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 238px" width="200"/>
 The situation became tensed when the two groups came into close contact. At this stage, there was much jostling and later water bottles and flag poles were hurled at each other.


 This forced the police to deploy the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) to restore calm.


 Met later, Azmin claimed that two opposition supporters were hurt in the melee while Hishammuddin said he was not aware of any injuries to BN supporters.


 Meanwhile, several press photographers complained of being hit by water bottles during the five-minute heated exchange. A FRU personnel was also said to have sustained minor injuries.


 PKR member Zulkarnain Kassim (
 
 photo below
 
 ), 33, claimed that an Umno supporter had thrown a piece of wood at him which hit his head


 According to both Hishammuddin and Azmin, police reports have been lodged over the incident.


 
 
 Straight fight
 
 


 Prior to the clash, the BN and PKR candidates successfully filed their nomination papers for the by-election which is slated for next Saturday, April 28.


 <img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="207" hspace="5" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/81/8c057583706d1e07414a41212b20cc45.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 207px" width="320"/>
 No independent candidates came forward despite earlier speculations that as many as four independents might run in the race.


 Parthiban, 38, who is the Tanjung Karang MIC division secretary was the first to file his papers at about 9.20am. PKR's Khalid, filed his papers at 9.36am.


 BN leaders including Najib, Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, MIC president S Samy Vellu, Penang Chief Minister and acting Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon and PPP president M Kayveas were present at the nomination centre to lend their support.


 <img align="left" height="236" hspace="5" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/81/753808f7798722bdc29ab114c7c2b26f.jpg" width="240"/>
 Khalid, who is also party treasurer and PKR Selangor chief, was accompanied by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and DAP deputy chairperson Dr Tan Seng Giaw.


 PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim was not present as he was away in Hong Kong for an international conference. He is scheduled to return today.


 Returning Officer Haris Kasim officially announced the straight fight at the end of the protest period at 11.10am. No objection was raised by both parties during the protest period.


 The Ijok state seat fell vacant following the death of BN-MIC representative K Sivalingam on April 4.


 This is PKR's second attempt to wrest the state seat away from BN. In the 2004 general election, Sivalingam beat PKR's Abdol Raman Moharam by a 1,649-vote majority.


 
 
 Watch the eight-minute video here.

updated version
 
 
 BN and opposition supporters grew weary of trading barbs alone and went a step further to trade water bottles and flag poles as well.
 
 
 [VIDEO INSIDE]

Flying bottles, flag poles mar nomination

~RM12

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