Najib hails returning officer's resignation

Deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak, who is leading the government's campaign in the Kuala Terengganu by-election, has welcomed the sudden resignation of the controversial returning officer.

"We don't want anyone to make allegations. We are afraid that if Barisan Nasional wins, (the opposition) will raise this as an issue. It's better that we solve this earlier with him withdrawing," he told state media.

Mat Razali Mat Kassim, the mayor of Kuala Terengganu, whom the Election Commission had appointed to oversee tomorrow's by-election, had been accused of pressuring civil servants to vote for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Commission chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohammad Yusof confirmed Mat Razali had quit late yesterday and said he had been under investigation, but declined to reveal the outcome of the probe.

"He has denied any wrongdoing but since he himself decided to resign, we have discussed it and we regretfully accepted his resignation," Abdul Aziz told a press conference.

PAS, which is fielding a candidate in the by-election on behalf of the three-member opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance, had accused Mat Razali of abusing his position.

"On Jan 14, Mat Razali gathered about 593 voters in Kuala Terengganu comprising of civil servants and council workers," PAS deputy state commissioner Wan Abdullah Muttalib Embong told a press conference.

"He told them that whoever does not vote Barisan Nasional is a traitor and whoever does not support Barisan Nasional can 'meet me and quit their jobs'."

Fear of phantom voters

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had yesterday also accused the government of buying votes for RM300-400 from Malays, who make up the majority of the electorate.

Opinion polls say that the Malay vote is split, and that the minority Chinese community, which makes up 11 percent of the population in the Kuala Terengganu electorate, is leaning towards the opposition.

Wan Abdullah said the opposition is also now fearful of "phantom votes" being cast by police who have been deployed in huge numbers in the capital of Terengganu ahead of the vote.

"This is what we are worried about, there are so many policemen, some say there are about 7,000 to 10,000 of them," he said, adding that many had been touring the city and playing beach football instead of manning their posts.

All campaigning must end at 12 midnight tonight. Polling will be between 8am and 5pm tomorrow. The result of the by-election is expected to be announced by 10.30pm at the latest.

- AFP