The independent candidate for the Jan 28 Batu Talam by-election has urged the Election Commission (EC) to disqualify his Barisan Nasional (BN) rival Abdul Aziz Kiram.

Ng Chee Pang, a 22-year-old trader, vowed to stop campaigning as a sign of protest if the EC fails to act.

Contacted yesterday, the budding politician said he had filed two complaints with the EC that Abdul Aziz is abusing government machinery in his campaign.

In his second complaint filed yesterday, Ng furnished photographic evidence. He has also filed a police report on the matter.

"EC said they had warned the BN candidate but we don't want a warning, we want him to be disqualified," he stressed

According to him, BN has gone overboard in abusing government machinery for the campaign.

"This is like using cannon and fighter jets to destroy us when we only have three people," he said in reference to his father and brother who double as his campaign manager and photographer.

"After nomination day (Jan 16), the BN candidate and his election workers could have gone home to sleep or watch television because they could win easily. But the development now is getting ridiculous as if they do not know about the code of ethics," he said.

'School hall used'

Ng explained that his complaint was based on a provision in the election code of ethics distributed to both candidates on nomination day.

He said the provision prohibits candidates and their party or election workers from using government buildings for campaigning unless written permission has been obtained. They are also barred from using 'community vehicles and communication devices'.

"I have photos. For instance, a Chinese school hall was used, BN flags were hung all over the place for Dr Ng Yen Yen (BN Raub MP and deputy finance minister) to campaign for the candidate," he alleged.

He also claimed that police and local council trucks were used to transport chairs and other items for the BN campaign.

Asked if he had checked whether his rival had obtained permission to use the facilities and vehicles, he replied: "It is obvious BN has breached the election regulations."

Contacted later, EC secretary Kamarulzaman Mohd Noor said he was not aware of the complaints, while returning officer Abdul Kadir Awang Bakar could not be reached for comment.

The by-election, called following the death of BN incumbent Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan last month, has been boycotted by the opposition in order to press for electoral reforms.

The Malay-majority seat is a traditional BN stronghold.