KAJANG Three top PKR leaders have claimed that their handphone numbers have recently been “hijacked”, to send out unidentified messages while party leaders are busy campaigning for the Kajang by-election.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and vice-presidents Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah Anwar made the claim today in statements indicating that the messages sent out from their numbers were aimed at pitting Pakatan Rakyat component parties against one another, particularly PKR and PAS.

Nurul Izzah's office released a statement earlier today saying the hacking of her mobile phone line was done in order to create confusion whithin Pakatan's election machinery.

It also said that the hacker's identity remains unknown.

Shortly after that, Tian Chua sent a tweet denying that he had sent out an SMS to sow friction between the PKR and PAS election machineries.

"This is BN's dirty tactic," he tweeted.

Azmin's office then followed suit, claiming that the action was aimed to "destroy unity in Pakatan Rakyat" and the statement added, “Immediate action is being taken."

This is not the first time a by-election has been marred with claims mobile phone numbers of leaders were hacked.

In the Sungai Limau by-election in November last year, former Kedah menteri besar Azizan Abdul Razak’s widow Faekah Sheikh Hamzah said her number had been hacked and text messages urging people to support the BN had been sent out.

However, PAS retained the Sungai Limau seat, for which the by-election was called following the death of Azizan.

The Kajang by-election is on its fourth day of campaign today, with voting to be held on March 23.