11.00pm Ceremah ends peacefully following a prayer session. Mohd Nizar the only top brass to speak. Others key figures present like Anwar, Hadi, Kit Siang and Guan Eng did not address the crowds, estimated at about 6,000 who were requested to disperse peacefully. They were told to attend Friday prayers at Ubudiah Mosque in Kuala Kangsar tomorrow.
10.45pm: MB Mohd Nizar speaks. Says Pakatan will boycott swearing in of BN reps tomorrow although they have been invited. He continues, "We will never recognise this illegal BN government. We will create a wave of protest throughout the state and fight together with the people of Perak to the last drop of our blood."
10.40pm: About 1000 people are on the street between Sam Tet School and the MB's residence, reducing four lanes to one. The traffic jam created as a result cause many impatient motorists to honk, this time probably to show their annoyance.
10.32pm: Announcement was made that electricity supply to the MB's residence may be disconnected. If that should happen, the crowds were advised to stary calm.
10.30pm: Motorists passing by the MB's residence honk in support. Inside, speeches are punctuated by shouts of Reformasi and Hancur BN. Crowds continue to swell. Many line up the street outside MB's residence.
10.20pm: Crowds growing. Police are not preventing people from entering the MB's residence. The hall where the ceremah is held is totally packed. Many willingly stand outside to listen to the speeches from Pakatan leaders. Crowds estimated at 4,000 now. FRU troops now seen patrolling outside the MB's residence.
10pm: Ceremah is ongoing in the MB's residence. About 3,000 people are said to be in attendance listening attentively on the sprawling grounds of the official residence. Crowds appear orderly. Situation calm and peaceful. Only about 50 policemen present. Pakatan bigwigs yet to take to the stage.
9.30pm: Mohd Nizar says he still has hopes of getting an audience from the sultan. But he needs nothing short of a miracle as the window to meet the sultan is closing. BN's 28 state reps and three independents will be sworn in by the sultan tomorrow.
Mohd Nizar also reveals that he had requested Anwar Ibrahim to file an emergency motion on the Perak political crisis during the next sitting of Parliament.
"This is now a national issue. Everybody wants to know about it so let it be discussed," he says.
Mohd Nizar reiterates that Barisan was grabbing power in the state
without following through the proper process.
"When the assembly sits in April, they can have a vote of
no-confidence. Then there would be a smooth transition," he says.
8.45pm: Five FRU police trucks arrive creating some tension among those gathered outside the MB's residence. The crowd shouted at the riot police, while PAS security team closes the gate to the MB's residence. However, the police made no attempt to enter the residence.
8.15pm: Among the crowd seen outside the MB's residence are former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim and popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.
7.50pm: About 1,000 Pakatan supporters are gathering outside MB's official residence. More are streaming in, creating a traffic jam in the area.
Despite warnings of tough action, police presence is minimal apart from traffic cops helping to ease congestion. The MB's residence has been sealed off by the PAS security team, Unit Amal. With the state government headquarters taken over by police this afternoon, there is fear that Mohd Nizar could be evicted from his official residence.
Many in the crowd are spotted holding umbrellas as there is a light drizzle. Banners at the gathering called for the dissolution of the state assembly as well as the return of power to the people. Pakatan top guns, including Anwar Ibrahim, are due to speak later tonight.
7.10pm: Chenderiang assemblyman Dr Mah Hang Soon, who is the sole MCA state rep in Perak, told Malaysiakini that he is likely to be one of the executive councillors in the new state cabinet line-up.
The MCA Youth deputy chief said that according to BN tradition, MCA will have one post in the state cabinet. However, he said he has yet been informed which portfolio he would be given. Mah added that the new government will be sworn in tomorrow at 3.30pm.
6.45pm: Pakatan supporters have been told to gather at the Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar's official residence after gates to the Ipoh Stadium were found to be locked.
6.15pm: PM Abdullah was seen leaving Istana Kinta. According to the latest information, the new BN-led state government is expected to be sworn in by Sultan Azlan Shah tomorrow in Iskandariah.
On arrival in Kuala Lumpur in Subang airport, Abdullah announced that Umno's Zambry Abd Kadir (right), 47, who is Pangkor state assemblyperson, has been picked as the new Perak menteri besar. A former lecturer of International Islamic University, Zambry has a Phd in politics.
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