The 14,000 voters in Bagan Pinang are expected to give BN a much-needed boost and allow it to retain the seat in the state parliament.

batu talam by election 220107 khairy smile "A win here would be crucial for our confidence," said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin ( left ).

BN has lost seven out of eight special votes held since disastrous 2008 general elections that saw it dealt its worst results in the half-century it has governed Malaysia.

Khairy said he expected strong support for its candidate Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

Isa, a former cabinet minister, was suspended from the party for three years from 2005 after being found guilty of buying votes in internal polls for party posts.

"I think we must explain to voters what he did was only a breach of party rules and not a criminal act and that he has paid his due," said Khairy.

"Moreover the voters here want him so we have fielded the people's choice."

Located near the seaside resort of Port Dickson, Bagan Pinang is viewed as a stronghold for the ruling BN coalition.

PAS has an uphill task

New premier Najib Razak came to power in April with plans to regain support by tackling corruption and reaching out to Chinese and Indians.

NONE Veteran opposition politician Lim Kit Siang says Isa's expected win would sully Malaysia's reputation and Najib's stated commitment to stamping out graft.

"It will be proof that Najib is not capable of walking the talk of reforms, particularly in the campaign against corruption and gross abuses of power by the key national institutions and players in the country," he said in a statement.

NONE The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, which is fielding Zulkefly Mohamad Omar from the conservative Islamic party PAS in today's vote, faces a tough challenge, according to party vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

"I realise that it's not easy for us to win, it's an uphill task as Isa is very popular here but we are confident that... the results may not be seen in the short term but will affect the BN at the next general elections," he said.

"Even if we don't win, we want to show people that the BN is corrupt and has no credibility and convince the people that in the long run it is better to vote for the opposition, which is not tainted by such scandal," he said.

- AFP