This Sunday's re-election for the Sungai Lembing state seat in Pahang is expected to be a non-event following a PAS boycott in protest of alleged irregularities by the Election Commission.

The party will have all its campaign material - posters, banners, flags, placards - removed by 5.30pm today.

"All posters and pondok panas (party booths) will be dismantled. All polling agents and party election workers will be recalled from the respective centres," said Paya Besar PAS division chief Yusof Embong when contacted today.

"The Sungai Lembing PAS committee, after a meeting on Wednesday night, has decided to boycott the election in line with the party's stand."

The re-polling was called after the EC nullified the votes for the state seat on election day last Sunday over a mix-up in the party symbols represented by the opposition candidate.

A Keadilan symbol was found next to PAS candidate Idris Ahmad's name at all 10 polling stations. According to PAS, only the postal ballot papers carried the correct symbol.

Marred elections

Following a dismal performance in the general election, PAS leaders claimed that the polls were marred by the interference of phantom voters, corruption, breach of election laws and irregularities on the part of the EC and its officials.

As a result, party president Abdul Hadi Awang had said that the party will not participate in the re-polling in Sungai Lembing.

The Sungai Lembing seat - a Barisan Nasional stronghold - sees a straight fight between the incumbent Umno candidate Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah and Idris, the Paya Besar PAS division deputy chief.

In 1999, Md Sohaimi won by a 1,297 votes against another PAS candidate in this Malay-majority seat. There are 11,834 registered voters here, made up of 79 percent Malays, 19 percent Chinese and 0.7 percent Indians.

The town of Sungai Lembing is about four hours drive from Kuala Lumpur and 30 minutes from Kuantan.

Election offence

Yusof said that while PAS was not telling people not to vote, its members knew what the boycott was all about.

"We can't stop anyone from voting as it is an election offence. The voters are free to decide for themselves whether or not to come out and vote.

"Furthermore, we will put up six banners declaring PAS' boycott of the N17 Sungai Lembing poll before Friday prayers," he said.

"All PAS members know what we mean by the boycott and we are not forcing them to do anything. They will just not vote."

Idris was not available for comment.

'BN victory assured'

Meanwhile, BN candidate Md Sohaimi urged all voters, especially BN supporters, to come out in full force to cast their ballots.

"I think many of the voters would not be influenced by the PAS boycott, although the voter turnout may drop by between five and 10 percent," he said when contacted.

Expressing doubts over the seriousness of PAS' boycott, he said the reverse campaign may be another ploy to garner higher votes.

"I have my own doubts (over the boycott campaign). Although PAS appears to be firm against the re-election, it may be gearing up towards a strong show of support from behind the scenes."

He said the March 21 poll would have garnered a better majority for the BN in Sungai Lembing.

"It would have been a comfortable win with a higher majority. But I'm confident of a win anyway."

Yesterday, the Pahang EC director Ismail Mohd Yusoff reportedly said that PAS' boycott will not disrupt the voting process.

He said the ballot papers were ready and the candidates' names were still valid.

Police probe

Meanwhile, Federal Criminal Investigations Department chief Musa Hassan said in Kuala Lumpur that he expects investigations into the mix-up to be concluded by next week.

National news agency, Bernama , quoted him as saying that the probe would include the government printers and the EC itself.

Police have so far recorded statements from three staff attached with Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad. The police have also interviewed EC secretary Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, who had lodged a police report over the errors on the ballot papers.

More statements are expected to be recorded by a four-member team from Bukit Aman before the file is closed.