Keadilan is preparing to face another round of high-profile defections to rival party Umno, which may include the party's former secretary-general Anuar Tahir, who is also the Keadilan Perlis chief.

It is learnt that party leaders were informed of a possible Umno strategy to announce Anuar's defection in "a day or two" to deal a knock-out blow to Keadilan's campaign in Indera Kayangan.

According to a high ranking source, party leaders are currently engaged in a "damage control" exercise by sending out word to their campaigners to brace themselves for such an eventuality.

"We are already telling the grassroots that we know about this matter and have asked them to be prepared for it," said the source who requested anonymity.

Anuar's refusal to accept party posts offered by president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has sparked off speculations that he was being wooed by Umno.

However, the former secretary-general threatened legal action against those spreading such rumours and also vehemently refuted allegations that he would resign from Keadilan.

Anuar, who leads a faction in the party comprising pro-Abim (Malaysian Youth Islamic Movement) members, lost his powerful secretary-general post in the party elections last November.

Prominent defectors

Since last weekend, some 300 members, believed to be mostly from the pro-Abim faction, are reported to have resigned from the party and joined Umno.

The most prominent defectors are Perlis deputy election campaign director Mej (Rtd) Mohd Shariff Abd Razak and the state's Youth deputy chief Syed Araniri Syed Ahmad.

They are said to have party hopped because they were "disillusioned with Keadilan's struggles".

They were also said to be unhappy with the party's decision to field Khoo Yang Chong, a former school teacher, in the by-election as the group preferred Anuar.

The defections could pose a threat to the 4,000 Malay voters in the constituency whose political affiliations are presently divided between Umno and Muslim-based PAS.

"Shariff's and Araniri's defection are insignificant and too small to create any waves. That's why they (Umno) are waiting for the right moment to use Anuar," said the source.

"If we lose Indera Kayangan this time, it is not because of Chinese votes. It will be because of Keadilan losing Malay support here," added the source.

Reluctant campaigners

The recent spate of defections have already affected the election campaign machinery between Keadilan and PAS, who are both partners in the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition.

"PAS leaders are now asking (Keadilan's vice-president and election campaign director) Azmin Ali who in Keadilan can and cannot be trusted," said the source.

Faced with such a dilemma, PAS leaders have been reluctant to campaign in Indera Kayangan, claimed the source.

Deputy Youth chief Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had to personally appeal to PAS leaders to 'show their faces' in Kangar in order to offset the crisis, added the source, referring to the signs of waning Malay support for Keadilan in the state.

PAS president Fadzil Noor and his deputy, Abdul Hadi Awang, were conspicuously absent on nomination day last week. Instead, the party was represented by vice-president Mustafa Ali.

However, Fadzil and Abdul Hadi have begun speaking in ceramah (political gatherings) since Monday. Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is PAS spiritual leader, is scheduled to speak at a ceramah in Indera Kayangan tonight.

The by-election will see a straight fight between Khoo and Oui Ah Lan, who is a retired Chinese school headmistress. The seat fell vacant following the death of BN state assembly representative Khor Liang Tee last month.

Polling day for the by-election in the state seat is on Saturday and campaigning will officially end at midnight tomorrow.