If BN and its leaders want to show off their strength, do so in the upcoming two by-elections instead of threatening to punch people, said PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

"A cabinet minister is now a gangster wanting to punch this person and that person.

"Let's have a 'punch up' with the rakyat in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar," he said in front of a crowd of 300 at a Save Malaysia gathering in Shah Alam last night.

While he mentioned no names, he was making obvious reference to Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, who has said twice that he was ready to have a "fist fight" with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's critics, including former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Nazri however, stressed he did not actually mean an actual physical confrontation.

This did not stop Azmin from throwing in a few more jabs aimed at Nazri and BN, questioning if a cabinet with a gangster in it could be trusted.

The opposition on the other hand, the Selangor menteri besar said, would be contesting on its successful track records in the state and Penang.

Clear message

Azmin also assured that the opposition would fight fairly in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

"We (the opposition) go to Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar not with slander, not with accusations nor personal attacks, and certainly not to punch this person or that person."

He also called on voters for the twin by-elections to give a clear message to reject Najib by voting for the opposition.

The Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar seats were vacated when their incumbents, Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad and Noriah Kasnon, perished in a helicopter accident in Sarawak.

The Election Commission has set June 18 as the polling day for both contests.