MCA leaders will set aside their differences to work together to ensure Barisan Nasional's victory in the Pendang parliamentary and Anak Bukit state by-elections, party president Dr Ling Liong Sik was quoted as saying today.

"MCA leaders will usually be united when it comes to delivering the seat for BN. We may have some differences but when you say anti-PAS, anti-terrorism, yes, we are united as we did in the Indera Kayangan and Ketari by-elections,"said in a Bernama report.

The party president had earlier visited MCA by-elections operation centre in Anak Bukit.

Ling added that the differences were just a "matter of the past" since the party had already adopted a peace plan put forward by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Both the Pendang parliamentary and Anak Bukit state seats fell vacant when the incumbent and PAS president Mohd Fadzil Noor died on June 23.

Election issues

BN's Othman Abdul will take on Dr Mohd Hayati Othman of PAS in Pendang; while Zakaria Said of BN will meet Amiruddin Hamzah of PAS in a straight fight for the Anak Bukit seat.

In recent days, BN has been raising issues surrounding enactment of the controversial Syariah Criminal Offences (Hudud and Qisas) Bill. It was passed by the Terengganu state assembly on July 8, with PAS being criticised as being extreme.

The opposition campaign, in turn, has focused on the split within MCA, which has raged for nearly a year.

Where Chinese votes may go

There are 3,403 Chinese voters in Pendang (6.4 percent of the total) and 2,151 in Anak Bukit.(11.09 percent). The total number of voters is 53,128 for Pendang and 19,399 for Anak Bukit.

Also in the Bernama report, Ling said that, based on feedback he had gathered, Chinese voters in the two constituencies are likely to reject PAS and to choose a progressive government.

Ling, who is also the Transport Minister, said it had been proven that states under BN rule are doing better than Kelantan and Terengganu, the two PAS-controlled states in the east coast.

"As far as the Chinese are concerned, they want good education and development. These two are very important factors to progress," he said.

Polling day falls on Thursday in both the constituencies.