PERMATANG PAUH: From the early morning traffic jam snaking kilometres down the highway to the sudden angry thunderstorm that drenched departing crowds, nomination day here lived up to every expectation.

The crowds were massive, the taunting and jeering fierce, and drama unfolded at every corner.

Beginning late last night, police were put to work as supporters wearing paper masks of their candidates and T-shirts with inventive phrases began gathering around the nomination centre in Mengkuang, near here.

By the time the first candidate, BN's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, arrived at the Tuanku Bainun Teacher Training College at 8.30am, there was only a narrow pathway open into the compound.

The candidates were greeted with roars from the countless supporters who had encircled the college and filled up surrounding roads.
Both sides traded insults and shouted across the field that divided them. This was to become a permanent feature of the day.

By the time Arif Shah, PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Akim's Hanafi Hamat had filed their nomination forms at 9.40am, a party-like atmosphere was in full swing within the grounds of the college where supporters waited.

Outside, the situation was more tense.

As a lion dance troupe and a group of Indian musicians pounded away on their drums and set people dancing inside the college grounds, supporters took their jostling and taunting a notch up. The musicians were brought by Pakatan Rakyat.

BN supporters baited opposition party supporters with crude jeers and songs about the charges against Anwar. Every once in a while, they would stop to convince repor-ters what a good family man their candidate Arif Shah was.

PKR supporters, too, called reporters to their side of the field, trying to convince them not to believe the BN taunts.

Many latecomers to the event had a tough time breaking through the crowds, even with the help of police personnel.

Opposition party supporters who had secured their position near one gate of the college heckled Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir as he made his way through their section of the road.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim had a tougher time with opposition party supporters emptying their mineral water bottles on him as he passed cocooned by policemen.

Many also waved fistfuls of money at BN leaders who passed by, shouting at them about corruption.

The crowds only let up and made way for several stretches carrying supporters who had fainted in the heat.

BN ministers and party leaders also had a tough time getting to the podium where the announcement of confirmed candidates was to be made.

Many were stopped by Federal Reserve Unit officers as they tried to enter the area.

Heath Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob and several former menteris besar were only allowed up to the podium after Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar intervened.

After the returning officer confirmed a three-cornered fight, the rush of media interviews began. But a downpour sent reporters and politicians scurrying for cover.

It was only past 1pm that the crowds cleared the centre.