PAS has filed a police report against Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for entering the polling stations in Kuala Berang, Terengganu.

The report was lodged this morning by Dr Mamad Puteh, the agent for PAS's candidate for the Kuala Berang by-election Muhyiddin Abdul Rashid, at the town's police station.

Najib, accompanied by Terengganu Menteri Besar Idris Jushoh, Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and a dozen bodyguards first visited the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kuala Berang polling station, where Muhyiddin cast his vote.

The entourage arrived at about 8.35am and were allowed entry to the polling station. They left about 15 minutes later following a protest from PAS.

Double standards

Speaking to reporters outside the polling station, PAS by-election campaign secretary Abdul Wahid Endut said the deputy premier's visit was against election laws.

"Apart from eligible voters and Election Commission (EC) officers, nobody, including the deputy prime minister, should be allowed to go inside a polling station," he added.

He said all quarters must abide by the rules to ensure the smooth running of the polls.

"This kind of double-standards has been happening since day one," he said, referring to PAS' claim that its officials were denied entry into the premises where the nomination process had taken place on Aug 16.

The opposition party has also registered its protest with the EC over the deputy premier's visit.

When contacted, Kuala Berang police chief Hussein Ismail confirmed the report was lodged but refused to elaborate.

Permission obtained

At a press conference later, Najib dismissed the incident as a 'non-issue' as he had obtained the green light from the EC.

"I am not campaigning, I just wanted to observe one or two polling stations on behalf of the government on how the voting process has gone thus far.

"I have permission from the EC to do so but after PAS made the protest, I decided not to go in (with the visits)," he said.

The deputy premier also showed reporters a copy of the authorisation letter, dated today, signed by Kuala Berang EC returning Idris Che Mat.

The letter permitted Najib and the Terengganu menter besar to visit the polling stations and when asked about the bodyguards, the deputy premier said they too were given permission.

"We just observed from a distance. We were not campaigning. This is to make sure the voting process goes on smoothly and voters are not kept waiting for too long," he reiterated.

Prior to the press conference, one of Najib's aide instructed the media not to publish photos showing the deputy premier with the Malacca chief minister and bodyguards as the EC only permitted Najib and Idris to visit the polling stations.

Small matter

Meanwhile, EC secretary Wan Ahmad Wan Omar described the incident as a 'small matter'.

"I am sure they have been given consent by the returning officer... this is the prerogative of the returning officer, I think he knows what is he doing.

"This is just a small matter, they didn't disturb the election process," he said when contacted.

Wan Ahmad also said the deputy premier and his entourage are not required to display their EC special tags - which reporters and other EC officers are requested to do so - to go into the polling station as the returning officer has been informed.

Asked whether PAS leaders could obtain a similar approval, he replied: "This is the prerogative of the returning officer, but PAS must also compare their official position (with the deputy premier's entourage)".