updated version

Barisan Nasional state assemblyman for Indera Kayangan, Khor Liang Tee, passed away last night after a long battle with cancer. His demise paves the way for a by-election in Perlis, which must be called within 60 days.

Khor, 59, who was MCA Perlis chief and a state executive councillor, died at 11.47pm last night and his remains were taken back to his home in Kangar this morning.

The father of four, who had suffered from colon cancer, was undergoing treatment at the Gleneagles Intan medical centre in Kuala Lumpur over the past few months.

Khor retained the state seat in the 1999 general election after polling 3,825 votes against Keadilan's Ko Choo Liang who polled 1,851.

The former assistant headmaster of SRK Stella Maris in Kangar has been the state assemblyman for Indera Kayangan since 1990 and was appointed as state exco in1995.

The Election Commission is expected to announce the date for a by-election soon, with an allotment of seven to10 days for the campaign period.

Machinery activated

Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim was quoted by Bernama earlier as saying the state Barisan Nasional had already activated its machinery to defend the constituency.

Indera Kayangan comprises 47.9 percent of Chinese voters, 46.4 percent Malays, 5.3 percent Indians, and the 0.4 percent of other races.

It is likely the BN candidate will be chosen from MCA as the Chinese-based party has traditionally held two state seats in Perlis since the 1960s.

However, observers say the split within MCA in recent months could jeopardise the Chinese votes in the upcoming by-election.

MCA Perlis deputy chief Loh Yoon Foo is known to be aligned to the party's 'Team B' - led by the opponents of president Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Meanwhile, PAS has said it will not contest for the Indera Kayangan seat despite calls to do so by local leaders.

Keadilan was initially reported to be fielding a Malay candidate, a plan which its opponent claims would fail as non-Malay voters are "solidly" behind BN.

However, recent speculations are that Keadilan would field a Chinese candidate and the wager is on the party's Penang deputy chief Cheah Kah Peng.

Since the 1999 general elections, there have been three state by-elections: Sanggang in Pahang, Lunas in Kedah, and Likas in Sabah.

Of the three, two - Sanggang and Likas - were secured by the ruling coalition while Lunas into the hands of Keadilan.