A poster war has broken out in Kuala Berang even though the nomination day for the by-election for the state seat is on Monday and polling is on Aug 28.

Bernama reported that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has already strung its flags along roads near the Kuala Berang market and built operations centres at all polling stations.

The BN election machinery was also seen to be busy at work preparing more operations centres as well as stringing up additional flags.

As for PAS, many of the party's flags could be seen in areas near to the PAS Terengganu Leaders' Assembly, which is scheduled to be held today, at Batu 24.

Several election machinery teams from outside Terengganu have also begun to set up their signboards. One such team has set up the Umno Johor House in Kampung Buluh nearby.

Aside from that, the prices of fruits now flooding stalls in Kuala Berang have also been marked up. Durians, which had previously been sold at RM10 for 5, are now priced at RM12.

Similarly, rental rates for houses have also gone up with all vacant houses reported to have been already reserved or rented out since the announcement of the by-election following the demise of Kuala Berang assemblyman Komaruddin Abdul Rahman, 46, on July 30.

EC will be watched

Meanwhile, PAS deputy women's chief Dr Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali, said that her party will be monitoring the Election Commission's electoral rolls closely.

She said that the scrutiny will be carried out even though it had been difficult to get the complete and up-to-date electoral rolls from the EC.

According to a Harakah Online report, Dr Lo' Lo' said that PAS members would try to stop the wrongdoings by EC staff, such as had occurred during the last general elections.

Lo' Lo' added that PAS often received copies of electoral rolls which did not have full addresses of voters.

According to her, the EC's excuse was that the addresses given by the voters during registration were incomplete.

However, she said that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was able to send out letters to every voter in the last general election.

"If the addresses had been incomplete as claimed by EC, how could Abdullah send a letter to all voters?" she asked.