No dissolution, new gov't to be sworn in

LIVE REPORTS

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.

5.50pm: PM Abdullah arrives at Istana Kinta in Ipoh. He joins Najib and all 28 BN state representatives as well as the three Independents who are already inside the palace. They will be sworn in by Sultan Azlan Shah to take over the state government.

4.58pm: A new BN government is expected to be sworn in today. Bernama reported that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the state BN representatives have arrived at Istana Kinta. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is on an official visit to the state, is also expected to be present at the palace any time now.

4.53pm: The police have taken over the state secretariat building. All Pakatan officials in the complex are told to pack up and leave by 5pm.

4.50pm: Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim said that they want to meet the sultan to convince him to dissolve the assembly.

4.45pm: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said that the Pakatan leadership fully backed Mohd Nizar's government. He added that the menteri besar will not resign unless a special state assembly session was called or fresh elections held.

4.40pm: Mohd Nizar tells the press conference that he would not resign from his post as the menteri besar. He urged the people to back his Pakatan government.

He also said that the assembly speaker had filed a suit on the validity of the resignation letters submitted by three former Pakatan state representatives and said that it was only wise to wait for the court to decide on the matter.

"The BN's majority may not be a valid one," he said.

4.15pm A source inside the Pakatan meeting at the MB's residence say that the atmosphere inside is sombre. Anwar is chairing the meeting, with everyone is being allowed to have a say.

4.14pm Unconfirmed reports state that former DAP state assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong's house in Ipoh and her service centre in Jelapang have been pelted with stones by people angry with her defection.

4.10pm Roads leading to the state secretariat have been blocked by the police to stop people from gathering there.

4.05pm: State secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim instructs Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar, all exco members and their aides to vacate their offices at the state secretariat as soon as possible. They have been reminded not to take any official documents with them. They were also told to hand in their official car keys as well as the keys to their offices.