LIVE BLOGGING FROM KELANA JAYA

UPDATE 16/9: VIDEOS OF THE NIGHT CAN BE FOUND HERE:

Watch Pakatan Rakyat Ceramah Live!

12.43am: For those of you who aren't Malaysiakini subscribers, I have provided you with the Malaysiakini report here:

Anwar: We're ready to form new gov't - Malaysiakini

12.42am: The government will fall within the next couple of weeks says Anwar. Another bluff?

12.29am: Of course, Anwar doesn't necessarily need to get the BN MPs to crossover. He merely needs the biggest support in the parliament, meaning, if BN splits, and PR is the biggest voting block in the parliament, Anwar will be the PM of a minority government.

12.27am: In the alternative, if he fails to convince Abdullah, which will more likely than not be the case, he would go to the DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda to request for parliament to be dissolved or that he be installed as the new PM. Of course, I think the DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda only has the power to dissolve parliament, but I think whoever he backs will be the obvious choice.

12.26am: My guess is that Anwar will present Abdullah with the list of MPs that will defect, complete with their SDs or declarations which will convince Abdullah to resign.

12.22am: Rally is over. Crowd dispersed peacefully. Thanks for following the live blogging here.

Come back tomorrow for more news! Anwar looks to meet the PM to talk about a smooth transition of power.


12.20am: Another picture:



12.18am: Anyone feeling it is weird how we have a complete blackout of media, mainstream and alternative? My calls to Kelana Jaya Stadium aren't getting through either.

12.10am: Looks like UMNO and BN leaders are watching Anwar closely. We have immediate replies from them:

Anwar's claim was immediately panned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other Barisan Nasional leaders.

Abdullah scoffed at the Opposition's plans, saying it was "a nuisance" and "preposterous."

He said the people had become very uneasy with this “naughty” speculation that the government would be toppled.

“It’s better to so something worthwhile instead of indulging in unecessary coffee shop talk,” he said after breaking fast with the people in Kuala Terengganu.

He said the best thing to do was not to entertain such talk posted in websites, adding: “The current government will remain strong.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said there was no way there would be a change in government on Tuesday.

“It’s not going to happen,” he said.

Nazri said Parliament had to be in session and it was not sitting currently, and there should be a constructive vote of no-confidence in Parliament such as by defeating a Bill.

He noted that there were two attempts by the Opposition not too long ago but they did not materialise.

“So, it’s a waste of time talking about it. Anwar is always doing a con job to trick the rakyat. You can kid the people once, twice but not all the time,” he said when contacted.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh said Anwar “should stop playing mind games.”

“For someone who aspires to be the future leader of the country, he must behave like one, and not like a politician hungry for power,” he added.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Anwar’s goal to capture enough Barisan MPs to topple the government today was an unnatural political act.

“If they want to form a government, it has to be done through the democratic process of the general election, not through the back door,” he said.

The Star

12.07am: Another interesting quote:

“We have the numbers and tonight is the eve of 916 and tomorrow is D-Day; we are ready.”

It seems Anwar is not giving away any conclusive evidence of what is to happen.

12.02am: Bits and pieces that I picked up: Anwar says that in a few days time, he will have very good news from Zaid Ibrahim. Everyone in the stadium were also given wristbands to wear tomorrow as a protest against ISA.

12am: And, SELAMAT HARI RAYA EVERYONE!

12am: Good morning everyone! Interesting news as the morning comes:

“The process has begun,” confirms a senior PKR leader. “Tomorrow, emissaries are going to try and meet the PM, and if that doesn’t materialise, Anwar will start the process.”

11.59pm: Crowd is chanting NINE ONE SIX! NINE ONE SIX, from what I can gather, which I concede is not much.

11.54pm: In the meantime, something to keep you guys occupied, pictures from Merdeka Review:



11.52pm: Still no signal from the stadium. I will try and ask some of my Kelana Jaya friends to walk over and check it out if I can convince them.

11.42pm: Just to keep you updated, I am desperately trying to call some of my sources present in the Kelana Jaya Stadium, but most of them are either not getting through or not picking up... All have ignored my smses... A telecommunications blackout?

11.33pm: Anwar hinted, again, at tomorrow being a day where he takes over government. Contradictory statements indeed. We will just have to wait and see.

11.32pm: I am receiving conflicting numbers as to the exact number of people are in the stadium, from 50K to 25K.

11.30pm: There is a wrist band being distributed to be worn as a sign of protest tomorrow.

11.29pm: Anwar stresses that he has the numbers, and he has sought a meeting with PM Badawi to discuss a peaceful transition of power.

11.27pm: Looks like there will be no government change tomorrow, by the looks of the feel on the ground. But they are still prepared for a major announcement to be made.

11.23pm: Pictures
source: Malaysian Insider

11.22pm: Sources from Kelana Jaya say that the crowd is around 30K, Anwar is still speaking.

11.20pm: I have lost all contact from Kelana Jaya. Attempting to contact several of my friends and contacts from Kelana Jaya to get a feel of whats happening.

11.16pm: From what I understand the webcast just died. It is hosted at Justin.tv, a reputable and heavy server, so is this foul play?

11.15pm: Anwar urges unity among all races, and stresses that Sabah and Sarawak are integral parts of Malaysia and should not be ignored like they have for the past 50 years.

11.13pm: OK this just in. Many important figures are hinting at a very important announcement being made tonight. The atmosphere in the ground is electric. Many are expecting an announcement to be made about defectors etc.

11.12pm: More subtle hints at an important announcement being made tonight (?)

11.10pm: Jaycee has left a comment about how many cars outside the stadium are being summoned by the police. Better remove them now, folks, though I have no idea how to get it through to them.

11.03pm: More humor from Anwar. He takes a jab at Syed Hamid who said that Sin Chew reporter Hoon Cheng was detained for her safety.

11.02pm: Anwar says that BN is in a state of denial.

11.01pm: We have to have free judges, not korek korek korek judges, we have to have a free media, not a government controlled propaganda, and a free police. He thanks the police for granting the permit.

11:00pm: Anwar attacks Utusan Melayu and the government propaganda.

10.57pm: Anwar says there are Malays that are stupid enough that will buy the government propaganda. He says Malays are strong, cultural, and polite. But when Malays become cruel and corrupt, not one Chinese, more so Malays should respect them. He stresses morals of a leader, saying Lim Guan Eng is a better leader than the UMNO MBs.

10.55pm: He takes a jab at Khir Toyo, and the crowd responds by booing Khir.

10.53pm: More vague statements about the power change.

10.51pm: He says the stupids in Putrajaya keep denying that Democracy is also an Asian value. He gives the example of Indonesia, India, Pakistan etc

10.50pm: More quotes. Anwar should get back to his usual fiery self before the crowd bores.

10.49pm: Anwar says to the family of the hundreds of detainees, you are not alone.

10.45pm: Merdeka is not only wearing fancy clothes and parades. He quotes Sukarno: We want to create an Indonesia for everyone. Not for one, not for one race. For the rich, for the poor. Everything for everyone. We should emulate this, says Anwar, and not leave it in the hands of cronies.

10.44pm: What is Merdeka, Anwar asks.

10.43pm: Music plays in the background. Anwar has special entrance...

10.41pm: ANWAR UP! REFORMASI! REFORMASI! the crowd chants

10.40pm: NINE ONE SIX! NINE ONE SIX! NINE ONE SIX! the crowd shouts. Kit Siang out.

10.38pm: Kit Siang says that he has no doubt that tomorrow Teresa Kok, RPK, Hindraf 5 and all the ISA detainees will be released! He tones it down though, by saying if you want that, we will have to support Anwar.

10.37pm: THERE WILL BE A SKY CHANGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A CORRUPT REGIME!

10.35pm: DO YOU WANT 916! Kit Siang screams! SKY CHANGE! DO YOU WANT SKY CHANGE? It drives the crowd mad with frenzy.

10.33pm: MALAYSIA DAY, WILL BE A NATIONAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY, BECAUSE MALAYSIA WILL HAVE A PAKATAN RAKYAT PM, DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM! shouts Kit Siang

10.33pm: Lets see whether Kit Siang can top Guan Eng's speech.

10:31pm: Kit Siang up.

10.29pm: Jafar congratulates Anwar for winning big in Permatang. He says this proves that PR has gotten an increased support from the rakyat of Malaysia. Jafar out.

10.28pm: Jafar says that don't be surprised if people from UMNO, MCA, Gerakan etc will reject their parties and join PR.

10.23pm: Jafar says that he is representing PAS and PR in opposing the detention of Teresa and RPK. He says that PAS and PR will do everything it can to overturn the ISA.

10.22pm: Jafar says that tomorrow hopefully we will start a reform to change the direction of the nation - a thinly veiled clue? He just made a jab at the BN MPs in Taiwan.

10.19pm: Kamaruddin Jafar, Secretary General of PAS is up.

10.17pm: Khalid says that non Muslim population of Selangor feel less ostracised and can identify themselves as one because of the efforts of the PR government in Selangor. Khalid says this day will go down in history, and finishes on that note.

10.14pm: Khalid shows concrete evidence that the PR government in Selangor is more efficient and effective. From what I can hear (which is not much) its 17 million vs. 180 million

10.14pm: Khalid says that he just rejected the licenses of corrupt cronies in the Selangor state government this morning.

10.11pm: Khalid calls for the release of all ISA detainees, and says that the ISA cannot guarantee the freedom of the people, cannot act as a fair judgment, and destroys lives of not only the detained, but the family. Khalid will also go to court (?) to express Selangor state government's opposition to this law.

10.10pm: Khalid expressing his sadness for 2 of Selangor's state assemblymen, Manoharan and Teresa are under ISA.

10.08pm: Khalid is talking about Malaysia Day, but seems to be more subdued than Guan Eng.

10.05pm: Khalid Ibrahim takes the podium.

10.05pm: Guan Eng steps down after a rousing and firing speech.

10.03pm: I'm proud to be Malaysian tonight, and the reason we are all here tonight, is because of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, says Guan Eng.

10.01pm: WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, Guan Eng shouts, THE TOUGH GETS GOING, the crowd shouts back.

10pm: Guan Eng is shouting praises into the mic for Zaid Ibrahim for resigning. He appeals for other Ministers to do the same.

9.58pm: Pentalingual (English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil) greeting from Guan Eng. He is practically shouting into the mic, firing up the crowd.

9.57pm: Guan Eng is up.

9.56pm: MANSUH MANSUH, MANSUH ISA being chanted. Next speaker up. Good speech from Said Ibrahim.

9.54pm: Interesting to hear that the word "khabar baik" is being mentioned again and again. Perhaps good news is on the way?

9.53pm: Huge boos from the crowd as BN is mentioned.

9.49pm: The leader of the Mansuhkan ISA movement is the opening speaker after opening prayers by the Ustaz.