A controversial billboard bearing the words Undilah Barisan Nasional (Vote for Barisan Nasional) in Jelutong, Penang has been removed. But as to who brought it down remains a mystery.

The Penang Municipal Council and an Umno division leader appear to be in the dark while a Keadilan leader claims that it was her rivals in the ruling party who removed it.

When contacted, the council's officer in charge of licensing Ang Soon Wah denied issuing an order to the enforcement unit to remove the billboard.

"I have not received word from those who are checking on the matter. We have not issued any instructions to take down the material," he said when contacted today.

"Perhaps it is the enforcement unit who has taken it down? Why don't you check with them?" he added.

Contacted later, the financial unit chief at the council's enforcement section Kassim Abdul Rahman said his officers were not behind the removal of the billboard, which also depicts a cross-checked box next to a photograph of Prime Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Usually, we do not act unless we have received instructions from the licensing department. We remove billboards only when they do not have a permit," he added.

On Feb 6, malaysiakini carried a report on the matter which saw opposition leaders criticising the council for allowing the ruling coalition to put the billboard prior to a general election being called.

However, the council had claimed to be unaware of the matter while the Election Commission (EC) said it was powerless to act.

The council added that it will approve such campaign paraphernalia only after receiving a letter from the prime minister informing them that the general election has been called.

On the other hand, EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said displaying election campaign materials before or after an election period was not an offence under the Election Offences Act.

Terengganu's billboards

Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) state deputy Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah claimed that the billboard was removed by Jelutong Umno members.

"I have asked the local Umno members about the board and they told me that it has been taken down after the story was published in malaysiakini .

"Umno members in that area were upset with their chief Mohd Noor Hussein for putting up the billboard before elections. They claimed he was too eager to flatter Abdullah," she added.

However, the Umno leader dismissed this claim, saying he too was not aware of the billboard's whereabouts.

"How could I have taken it down when I am the Jelutong Umno chief.

"Why are people complaining only when BN puts up billboards? There are more billboards in (the PAS-controlled) Terengganu. Ask them to go and see for themselves and then complain to malaysiakini ," said Mohd Noor.