S'WAK POLLS PKR refutes the claim by state DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen that the party’s Batu Kitang candidate Voon Shiak Ni has fallen behind in informal polling and should pull out to ensure an opposition victory.

PKR communication director Fahmi Fadzil today cited a survey, conducted from April 27 to May 1 by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), which found that Voon was preferred in Batu Kitang over DAP's Abdul Aziz Isa.

Fahmi said Voon was favoured by 33 percent of respondents, ahead of the 31 percent who chose DAP's Abdul Aziz Isa. The poll showed, however, that Barisan Nasional candidate Lo Khere Chang beat both at 35 percent.

One independent registered a one percent approval.

"The (UUM) survey was conducted independently and without our knowledge. The result was handed to us by persons we do not want to identify,” he was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail Online today.

“A vote for him (Abdul Aziz) is a wasted vote. His votes should go to our candidate,” he added.

Fahmi said the poll cited by Chong which says Abdul Aziz was garnering support, was a survey done in January by Merdeka Center: “That Merdeka Center's survey was outdated as it was done in January this year. Moreover, it was on the assumption that Chong himself, not (Abdul) Aziz Isa, would be the candidate."

Voon's campaign manager, Simon Siah, said the PKR candidate has served Batu Kitang with her community projects for over 10 years and criticised DAP for trying to undermine her chances by splitting the opposition vote in what should have been an “easy win”, the Malay Mail Online reported.