news feature Although a key town on the trunk road between Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan, it is unlikely that Bentong townsfolk see regular traffic jams late into a Friday night.

But last night, the main roads were clearly busy with buses and cars bearing city licence plates, transporting those who had either arrived at Ketari to campaign or to witness the events leading up to the by-election tomorrow.

Roads leading into Bentong town are festooned with Barisan Nasional posters and signboards.

It was only in the heart of Ketari that signs were visible of opposition party DAPs presence. A three-metre rocket structure and some posters marked a side road which turns off into Ketaris predominantly Chinese neighbourhood.

A nearby house doubled as DAPs Ketari branch headquarters but little activity was visible at this station late in the evening.

The key event of the evening took place only a few steps away from the DAP office at SJK(C) Ketari. At the assembly grounds of the school, a stage was set up for a concert hosted by Barisan component party, Gerakan.

Gerakan leader Dr Lim Keng Yaik attended the concert entitled Bermesra Menuju Wawasan at about 9 pm and gave a speech with the partys candidate Yum Ah Ha.

Opportunistic character

Some 300 people who attended the event were reminded of DAPs opportunist character in the latters decision to campaign with PAS and Keadilans assistance.

Posters were also put up of a photograph depicting DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang shaking hands with Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat during a PAS-organised dinner on March 4.

The dinner, was held to raise funds and support for Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan, who was suspended from Parliament last year.

A police truck was seen driving away after the concert but overall, police presence in Ketari was minimal.

Across the main road, some 50 members of the Indian Progressive Front, which supports the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition, gathered at the partys operations room.

However, no speeches were held and members appeared to be present merely for a late-night gathering.

Further out of the centre of town, Umno ceramah continue late into the night at a nearby village.

Some 100 people were gathered at a community centre, listening to the speaker extol praises of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in bringing about development while ensuring racial and religious harmony in the country.

Straight fight

One night away from the by-election and little appears to have ruffled the calm of Ketari aside from the overwhelming number of posters lining the streets and the occasional blaring loudspeaker of the Umno van passing through town.

The Ketari by-election tomorrow will see a straight fight between Gerakans Yum and DAPs Choong Siew Onn. The seat fell vacant following the death of its representative, Loke Koon Kam of Gerakan.

Loke beat Choong with a 231-vote majority in the 1999 general elections.

Ketari has 17,143 registered voters, of which 95 are postal votes. Chinese Malaysians comprise 53.83 percent (9,228) of the constituency, Malay Malaysians 39.12 percent (6,706) and Indian Malaysians 5.21 percent (843).

The Orang Asli comprise 1.3 percent (223), bumiputra from Sabah and Sarawak 0.21 percent (36) and others 0.33 percent (57).