I refer to Malaysiakini report For Najib, KT is a do or die battle.

The coming by-election in KT can be considered a baptism of fire for the incoming prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak, as he prepares to take over the post from the lame duck incumbent.

The result of this important by-election will be closely watched by political pundits and the public at large. Much is at stake here and Umno needs to win badly to redeem its pride after losing big in the last by-election at Permatang Pauh.

This is a defining moment for Najib as a win for his party in the coming by-election will be an endorsement by the Malay community of his leadership of Umno. A failure to retain the seat will be a major setback to his image and leadership skills to navigate his party and BN component parties to a better victory in the next polls.

Now that the PAS president has nominated a dark horse, Abdul Wahid Endut, to fight against Umno candidate Wan Ahmad Farid, battle lines will be drawn and big guns of both parties will be used to fish for votes especially among the fence-sitters who will determine which candidate wins this highly-prized by-election.

Abdul Wahid Endut, the five-term PAS assembly person is a non-controversial figure who will give a tough fight against Wan Ahmad Farid whose party is in tatters after losing big in the March 2009 general elections.

While we can expect PAS supporters and voters to stick to their candidate when it comes to the ballot, the same cannot be said for the BN candidate as Umno’s disgruntled voters have no qualms about voting for an opposition party if their favourite candidates are not nominated for parliament or state seats.

It has happened before and it will happen again in the coming polls as Umno is filled with internal conflicts which can bring the party down in the near future.

One cannot dismiss the importance of this by-election in a Malay-majority area as both Umno and PAS who claim to represent the voices of the disfranchised Malay community will fight with all available resources to ensure they win the seat.

PAS with its strong Islamic principles have a strong base in this conservative Malay seat but they still have to depend on their Pakatan partners, DAP and PKR, to deliver the Chinese votes.

Chinese New Year has come early for the Chinese community in Kuala Terengganu as the state government has granted a big grant to Chinese schools to improve their infrastructures and well- being. Expect more goodies from the present government in an attempt to fish for votes as polling day draws nearer.

The Chinese voters in the constituency will play an important role in determining who wins in KT and they will be wooed by both BN and Pakatan Rakyat leaders. One cannot predict how the Chinese voters in the areas will vote after more than 10 months since the March general election. However, voters can judge the performances of BN and oppositions MPs in parliament..

BN will use the same tactics to win votes, while the opposition parties will use transparency, accountability and the corrupt practices of BN leaders to swing the votes towards their candidate.

But PAS, which had ruled Terengganu for one term and has hardcore Malay supporters, will face a daunting task to win the KT parliament seat. The local Umno leaders with the help of the federal government will pour in money and use government machinery to defend the seat which they won by a thin margin in the last polls.

Najib and Anwar Ibrahim, the two contenders for the prime minister’s post, will square off with each other in the coming by-election in KT. Expect much fireworks from both camps as dirty linen will be aired in public like what has happened in the Permatang Pauh by-election.

So much is at stake here and we hope voters in KT will use their heads and not follow emotions when voting. Judge for yourself the performance of the present government and see if they have improved or not.

Voters in KT, decide carefully before you vote as the result of the coming by-election will determine our country’s future. Much is at stake here.