The time has come for Tenang voters to distinguish between the tellers of truth and the liars among the leaders, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said today.  

Having heard the leaders since the start of campaigning on Saturday, the voters should be able to assess who among them say things just to win support, he told reporters, commenting on the statement of PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat that all who did not vote for the party were "jahiliah" (ignorant).

"As the hour for voting approaches he (Nik Aziz) declares people ignorant," Jamil Khir said.

He said that Nik Aziz was not consistent in the statements he made.

Jamil Khir also criticised the teacher husband of PAS candidate Normala Sudirman for allegedly abusing his medical leave.

He said that Maarof Abd Mutalib had taken 21 days medical leave supposedly because of emotional pressure, but was well enough to travel with his wife all over Tenang.

BN's Mohd Azahar Ibrahim, 39, and  Normala, 38, are in a straight fight in the by-election tomorrow which follows the death of BN state assemblyman Sulaiman Taha on Dec 17.

- Bernama