7.30pm: Kuching The DAP-organised 'grand finale' kicks off on time with the singing of the Sarawak state anthem.7.40pm: Kuching The crowd is massive. The car park is filled to the brim. It is very difficult to give a decent estimate.
DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua is asked to give an estimate of the crowd. As he climbs up the stage for a look, he appears a bit overwhelmed and remarks: “This has to be more than ten (thousand).”
7.40pm: Sri Aman Santiago pleads with a police officer to allow the ceramah to proceed for only one hour.An officer from the Election Commission is also attempting to persuade Santiago to call off the ceramah because a permit was not granted.
Tension is brewing, voices from the impatient crowd shout, “We want ceramah” and “Vote rocket for change”.
Negotiations are still going on.
7.30pm: Kuching A crowd of about 10,000 people gather near Stutong Market, although the DAP-PKR joint grand finale night has not yet started.
The atmosphere is very hot and many supporters wave the DAP and PKR flags while waiting for the ceramah to start.
Some supporters bring plastic chairs themselves and walk from about 5km away to avoid the heavy traffic jam.
The star speakers tonight included DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming, PKR veep Nurul Izzah and all five candidates from DAP and PKR in the Kuching area.
7.50pm: Sri Aman After negotiations, DAP gives in and agrees to shift the ceramah to a restaurant nearby.
“We regret to announce that we are forced to shift our ceramah to Alisan Restaurant. DAP is a peace loving party...” DAP Simanggang candidate Leon Donald tells the crowd before being interrupted by the police.
The police action prompts the angry crowd to jeer at them, “Booo!!”
The police then announce via a loudhailer that this is an illegal assembly.
“Anyone who participates will commit an offence... We give you five minutes to disperse!” a police officer who is not in uniform announces, to the jeer of the crowd.
“If they are so kiasu (scared to lose), we let them lose tomorrow!” says a middle-age man while walking to the restaurant.
This causes anger among the crowd, and they shout “Ubah, ubah, ubah” in response to the police action.
While Chong questions why the police are practicing double standards against them, the emcee asks the crowd to remain calm.
8pm: Sibu DAP holds its grand finale ceramah at Kg Datu, attracting a crowd of over 2,000.
It has been drizzling in Sibu since 4pm, but the crowd is still pouring in, carrying their umbrellas and their own chairs.
8.05pm: Kuching The chaos continues when one of the DAP leaders asks the 10,000 crowd, “Police want us to stop, do you want to stop?”
However, he asks the supporters to remain calm and not to insult the police.
“Let them leave peacefully, don't insult them, they are only taking orders from their superior BN.”
“The police left the stage after we refused to listen to them,” Pua tells Malaysiakini.The ceramah resumes later when Pua goes on stage and gives his last political speech before the polling day.
Wasting no time, he blames the police for always intimidating the opposition but thanks the supporters who always stand behind them.
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