With just three more days to polling, top Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat leaders are squaring off relentlessly in the media and nightly ceramah throughout Kuala Terengganu.

For the two main candidates, they are locked in a keen personality contest which, as the Merdeka Centre survey suggested, is the key to the "Battle of KT".

PAS candidate Abdul Wahid Endut, 52, knows this all too well and is exploiting his affable personality to win over voters rather than harp on issues and ideology.

kuala terengganu by election 130109 abdul wahid write chinese calligraphy In his campaign, he is trying to portray himself as a devout Muslim, an elected representative with a track record and a wholesome family man.

"I don't have that many children, only nine!" he quipped during a ceramah at Ocean Restaurant on Sunday drawing loud guffaws from the mostly Chinese crowd.

The veteran politician who is making his seventh election appearance knows his terrain and audience well and has packed his schedule with meet-the-people sessions.

Met at a Malay village in Batu Burok yesterday, Abdul Wahid was seen milling with rural folks effortlessly, frequently flashing his trademark smile.

His Barisan opponent Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh, has been seen as lacking in the personality department since he was named the coalition's candidate.

Up until the elections, Wan Ahmad Farid was the deputy home affairs minister and it is often claimed that he was out of touch with the people of Terengganu.

Everything from his smile to fluency in the Terengganu dialect went under the microscope.

Wan Farid improving

But after nine days of campaigning, the general consensus is that he has improved and has earned praise even from his critics.

"He has made a lot of improvements since day one," remarked former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo who has been campaigning for six days in Kuala Terengganu.

Mohd Khir said that Wan Ahmad Farid simply has to convince voters that he is friendly and approachable and will be with the voters in times of trouble to win them over.

Met at a ceramah kelompok (mini ceramah) at a house in Kampung Paloh yesterday, Wan Ahmad Farid earned positive responses from some 50 voters, mostly women, during his brief speech.

kuala terengganu by election 140109 kg saloh 04 Wan Ahmad Farid tried to assure his audience that his main concern is about the welfare of the 80,000 voters in Kuala Terengganu and will continue to serve in the same manner as the popular Razali Ismail, the former MP for the area.

But even before he is elected, several women caught hold of him after his speech to show him several official documents and sought his help.

"It's good to have events like this because we can address their grievances as well," he told Malaysiakini before pushing off to his next function.