Blogger Anil Netto has a live report of the Permatang Pauh by election. Read his report from the bottom up for those who likes to read in chronological order. For more updates, please visit anilnetto.com

---

1245: Uh-oh, looks like some over-exhuberant supporters around. This from The Edge Daily:

26-08-2008: FRU disperses crowds at polling centre

From Regina William in Permatang Pauh

PERMATANG PAUH: Hundreds of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel and plainclothes policemen moved in to disperse thousands of vociferous supporters outside Sekolah Kebangsaaan Seri Penanti voting centre in Kubang Semang.

The crowd had inched their way onto the road, disrupting the smooth flow of traffic.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had earlier cast their votes at the school at 9.48am and 9.53am, respectively.

The crowd started to gather beneath the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway as early as 7am. By 8am, the crowd has swelled to a few hundreds on both sides of the road. At one point, police moved in and arrested a PKR supporter who attempted to cross the road to taunt the Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters.

Police then used the loudhailer and gave the crowd five minutes to disperse. Both sides of the crowd moved back but remained, while FRU personnel formed a human chain in front of the groups of supporters.

Police helicopter hovered above to keep a watchful eye to ensure there were no untoward incidences.

Despite the sweltering morning heat and tense situation, including the traffic snarl stretching 5km on either side, voters kept “swimming in” to fulfill their obligations.

Earlier, Anwar told reporters that he was confident of a win but was skeptical about the majority, which he claimed would be affected by vote-rigging and “uncleaned” electoral roll.

Anwar was dressed in a baby blue shirt. When asked about his message to the BN, Anwar said: “Behave and accept the stark reality of the day.”

Despite him being early in the day to claim victory, Anwar expressed confidence that he would be in Parliament tomorrow morning, indicating a victory is imminent.

---

1230: A lot of activity on the streets. People are just milling around, some sitting around in coffee shops. The honking of motorbikes and cars continues. Almost like a carnival atmosphere. I am going to walk around now, maybe grab some lunch. Next update around 1400.

1209: Turnout so far is believed to be around 30 per cent, which PKR officials are describing as “okay” and “not bad”. They tell me the turnout at the general election was 81 per cent.

The noise decibel level where I am is rising. Music is blaring, flag-waving canvassers are cheering passing cars, police sirens are wailing, people are chattering away excitedly, cars are honking.

1140: The mood is upbeat at the PKR office, which is a hive of activity. I run into the amiable Mustafa Kamal (not the blogger!), the PKR campaign director. He is more optimistic. He predicts that the majority will easily exceed 13,000. I ask him what he bases his optimism on.

“The high-spirited support - more high-spirited than during the general election.”

Does he think his earlier target of a 20,000-majority can be met?

“That I can’t say!”

Okay, time for me to take a little walkabout and poke my nose around.

1122: I don’t know how to describe the atmosphere here in Permatang Pauh. Electric, magical, heady… It’s all that and more. I spoke to the guy in charge of the PKR office, and he is cautious. He expects a 3,000-5,000 majority. Right now, he is concerned that there are not enough PKR canvassers at Seberang Jaya, Ariff Shah’s stronghold. Many of the PKR volunteers are in Penanti.

1023: Superpoorman tells us that voter turnout appears as high as the 2008 general election and Ariff Shah has received a lukewarm reception:

I went to queue up in front of the SK Seberang Jaya II voting centre’s gate @ 7.45am. There were already several early birds in the queue and hoards of reporters. Ariff Shah and his wife and several women walked from his house and arrived there @ 7.50am. He attempted to chat up the voters but their responses were lukewarm. From their expressions and body language it looked as if they were not voting him. Nobody offered to salam him. Even those extended salam by him merely shook his hand and quickly pulled back. Not a single voter were heard uttering any ‘good luck’ wish.

Instead, a Malay man next to me was quite pissed off by Ariff blocking the entrance; I could see this man rolled up his eyes and draw a deep breath.

Sensing the poor response from the real voters, Ariff quickly turned his attention to the media and gave a short interview plus photo taking.

The voting centre finally opened at 8.00am and people started streaming into the compound in droves. The turnout was as much as the one in 080308 (I was there voting @ 8.00 sharp too).

I casted my vote while Ariff casted his in Saluran 2. While on my way out, I saw Ariff still hanging around the compound, walking listlessly, trying to shake the hand of anyone who looked familiar to him. By this time the press had deserted him and he appeared to be alone, like a lone sea-gull. Again, nobody went up to shake his hand.

Judging by that kind of response, I am confident BN will lose big this time, real BIG, probably 20,000-30,000 majority.

Well, Malaysia, I have discharged my duty in voting for Anwar. The rest will he history.

1023: Muhammad Firdaus Christopher provides an update on the mood from the ground:

My sincere apologies for not being able to send in my updates last nite as I was caught up with the action and only managed to get home at 3am… Last nite was just amazing and I was there since 9pm, laying my tikar and sharing them with five of the local folks around Seberang Jaya.

Despite the downpour, they were in high spirits and very excited about listening to their wakil rakyat. Whilst awaiting we chatted quite a bit and here is some input:

- They do not believe the sodomy allegation, say it was a political ploy

- Arif is really needed as an Adun in Seberang Jaya as he has excellent track record

- BN particularly Umno has become a racist party

- Too much propoganda played up by the media on the sumpah laknat/sodomy allegations

- Puteri/Putera Umno’s allegedly obscene gestures

- They feel that Najib/Rosmah are (allegedly) linked to the Altantuya case (may her soul rest in peace)

- and many, many, many more…. can’t continue.

Bottomline, with the feeling of the voters at Ground Zero where it matters, I’ll bet my dough on Datuk Seri with 80-20 in his favour.

0924: Just receive a text message from a friend: “Hopping from foot to foot in nervous energy. Keep us in d loop even if you have 2 pay a phantom voter RM10 to hold an umbrella over your notebook”! Ha ha. Quite. On that note, I am off to scour the streets of Permatang Pauh for a bit.

0845: For eye-witness accounts of last night’s big ceramah, check out the coverage by Aliran members-cum-bloggers Mustafa K Anuar and Susan Loone.

0815: Already there’s a text message being circulated: “Pls fwd. Pastikan anda/jiran/rakan keluar undi awal tanpa tangguh @ ragu. Tiada siapa dpt halang anda dari mengundi…”

It’s D-Day! That’s the first thing that comes to mind when I wake up and rub my eyes.