PAS is reluctant to help Keadilan with the latter's ceramah (political talks) in Indera Kayangan for fear of offending Chinese voters on the Islamic state issue, Perlis Umno information head Abu Bakar Ismail said today.

"Keadilan has been left to campaign for the Indera Kayangan by-election alone. PAS leaders only dare to speak at Keadilan ceramah outside the constituency," he said.

Abu Bakar, who is state assemblyman for Pauh, said this move by PAS was affecting Keadilan's election campaign momentum and the party will have to expend extra effort on getting the Chinese votes.

"This dilemma is a blow to Keadilan. The situation is further worsened by the mass resignation of their members over the last few days to join Umno," he said.

He also pointed out the fact that Keadilan speakers had been avoiding the Islamic state issue and had mainly focused on other matters including Chinese education.

Not obliged

Commenting on Keadilan deputy Youth leader Saifudin Nasution's challenge to Umno provide proof that 361 people who joined Umno on Saturday were Keadilan members, Abu Bakar said Umno would not reply to it.

"Umno is not obliged to entertain such challenge. In fact, it is Keadilan that should prove that they are not its members," he said.

In the run-up to the Indera Kayangan by-election to date, some 360 Keadilan members are believed to have defected to Umno. The latest group of 300 members were led by the party's Perlis Youth deputy chief Syed Araniri Syed Ahmad on Saturday.

On Friday, Keadilan's Indera Kayangan by-election co-director Mej (Rtd) Mohd Shariff Abd Razak hopped across to the ruling party saying he was 'disappointed' with the party's struggle.

Abu Bakar said he 'fully understood' the pressure facing Keadilan leaders now, including Saifudin, after a large number of Keadilan members quit to join Umno.

"His challenge is more of a political gimmick, made out of his frustration at what is happening in Keadilan now. But I can tell him that more Keadilan members are expected to leave the party and join Umno soon," he said.

Reduce majority ploy

Perlis Barisan Nasional Wanita head Mastika Junaidah Hussein claimed Keadilan was discouraging BN supporters, especially Malay voters, from turning out on polling day by telling them that BN would easily retain the Indera Kayangan seat.

"The opposition is telling the people they only want to reduce BN's majority in this by-election. If this works, BN may end up losing the seat," said Mastika who is the Arau member of parliament.

She said Keadilan has resorted to such tactics after the party failed to find any major issues to attack the BN with.

The Indera Kayangan by-election campaign period is now in its sixth day. Polling on Saturday will see a straight fight between BN's MCA candidate Oui Ah Lan, 58 and Keadilan's Khoo Yang Chong, 60.

The seat fell vacant following the death of former BN state assemblyman Khor Liang Tee last month.