Opposition parties involved in the boycott of the Batu Talam by-election has been described as 'cowards' and 'scared of losing' by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"They are scared of competing... cowards! They field a youngster while they avoid a contest. They are scared of losing," said Abdullah last night after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting.

Bernama quoted the PM as saying that the fielding of an independent candidate was merely to deny Barisan Nasional a walkover.

The by-election for the state seat will see a straight fight between BN's Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram and the independent candidate, Ng Chee Pang, a 22-year-old trader.

The opposition have boycotted the polls in order to press for electoral reforms.

The seat fell vacant following the death of BN incumbent Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan on Dec 27 last year.

Walkover inevitable

Abdullah expected the BN to cruise through the election as its opponent was an independent candidate.

"The BN election machinery is in full swing and God willing, victory is in our hands," he said.

Ng himself admitted that he was facing an uphill battle due to his lack of political experience and being unknown among the voters.

"I have no friends among the Malays in Batu Talam constituency and it is difficult to campaign as I have no party and branches," he told Bernama yesterday.

Nevertheless, he is confident that patience and determination would see him through.

"Let people say what they want. What is important is that I am highly spirited to contest. The experience will be etched in my mind for as long as I live. If I lose, it's part and parcel of competing," he said.

Polling day is on January 28.