Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was clearly unhappy when reporters questioned on the political credibility of the party's candidate for Permatang Pasir by-election.

Describing the controversy over Rohaizat Othman's disbarment by the Bar Council as a personal business matter, he called on parties, including his own Umno leaders, to stop talking about the issue.

"Umno leaders should stop talking about it. Rohaizat and his partner Yusri Isahak should stop talking about it.

"It's their vested business and personal interests," he said, alleging that the controversy was caused by misunderstanding between the duo.

"The candidate personal matter is a non-issue here.

"Why should a business partnership matter be politicised and become a campaign issue?" he told a press conference at Barisan Nasional by-election command centre in Bukit Merah, Permatang Pasir constituency this evening.

"We should concentrate on our campaign to win the seat," he said.

Ahmad, also the Penang Umno chairperson, wasted no time to slam the Pakatan Rakyat campaigners for carrying out a character assassination campaign on Rohaizat.

However, he said the largely rural Permatang Pasir voters were not affected by the Pakatan campaign.

"Over the past few days of campaign, we found out that the people are not interested, neither bothered not they care about the issue.

"No one asked us about it anyway," said Ahmad, expressing confidence that BN-Umno campaign so far had managed to penetrate many ‘difficult' voters.

Umno will not resort to low tactics

This morning Rohaizat's former business partner, Yusri Isahak alleged that the Umno candidate was guilty as charged by the Bar Council.

Refuting claims by Umno leaders that Rohaizat was innocent from any wrongdoings, he said it would be a "blatant lie to say that Rohaizat never knew anything about the cooperative land and money transactions."

Ahmad Zahid said that BN would not emulate Pakatan to carry out a character assassination campaign on PAS candidate Mohd Salleh Man.

He claims that even though BN has much evidence to attack Mohd Salleh personally, the coalition would not stoop so low in its campaign.

"For me and other BN leaders, we don't need to resort to dirty tactics to smear and tarnish our opponents. We need not manipulate an issue for political gain.

"We would rather focus on carrying out a more viable and progressive campaign to woo the voters," he told journalists.

Since the issue of Rohaizat disbarment by the Bar Council from legal practice surfaced last Friday, Umno leadership has been working hard to brush aside allegations on the candidate's tainted legal background.

No comment from Rohaizat

Earlier today, during his a door-to-door campaign in Taman Penanti, Rohaizat declined comment on Yusri's disclosure.

Permatang Pauh Umno division secretary Rohaizat faces PAS state commissioner Mohd Salleh in a straight fight for the Permatang Pasir by-election.

Polling is next Tuesday Aug 25.

On the campaign trail, Ahmad Zahid said that BN could repeat a Manek Urai by drastically reducing PAS winning margin.

"If we could drive on the current campaign momentum, I think we have a good chance of even winning the seat," he said.

He explained that his optimism was encouraged by the change of mood among the voters and feedback received following BN three-step campaign strategy.

"We found that voters who turned us down in the beginning are well receiving us.

"We are also winning over the Chinese votes who had enough of PAS," he said.