If there ever was a time when a short campaign period was more helpful to the opposition than to the BN, Permatang Pasir would be it.

After reducing PAS’ majority in the Manek Urai by-election to a mere 65 votes, the BN were hoping of a better performance in this by-election, perhaps even thinking that they could capture this constituency from the opposition.

However, from day one of this eight-day campaign, the main issue of contention has been the controversy surrounding the Umno candidate, Rohaizat Othman, regarding his role in an aborted land transaction that ultimately got him struck off the rolls of the Malaysian Bar Council.