Conflicting Advice For Batu Talam Voters By BN And PAS.

The farcical proportions to which the Batu Talam by-elections have reached can be deduced from the conflicting advice that the voters have been given by the ruling BN as well as the opposition PAS.

Lets take the Barisan statement first: Prove Democracy Still Alive, Zam Tells Batu Talam Voters.

Batu Talam voters have been urged to come out in full force to exercise their electoral right in Sunday's by-election to prove democracy is still alive in this country.

In making the call, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said though this was only a by-election, its outcome was significant as it would mirror the people's trust and confidence in the country's democratic process.

"They must come out in droves to cast their ballots. They should not listen to instigators. When the voters come out to vote tomorrow, they should not pay heed to Opposition claims that this by-election is undemocratic," he told reporters.

Zainuddin said he was optimistic Batu Talam voters would not be swayed by the Opposition's ploys to influence the electorate not to come out to vote.

The by-election is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional's (BN) Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram, 47, and an independent, Ng Chee Pang, 22.

"The Opposition is not contesting to boycott the by-election hoping that the people will also boycott the polls. That's their biggest expectation, (but) the voters must come out to vote to prove the Opposition is no longer relevant in Malaysia's democratic system," he said.

Elaborating on the Opposition's boycott move, Zainuddin said: "There is no more of such groups in Terengganu, there are still some in Kelantan, their defeat here (in Batu Talam) with a good voter turnout means it's only a matter of time they're no more in Kelantan, too. "Nevertheless, some are still fanatic, adamant to change and are backward- thinking, but many have turned against these groups," he said.

On his advice to Batu Talam voters, Zainuddin said: "Go out to vote regardless of rain, storm or floods. Election machinery workers will help bring voters to their respective polling stations. Transport is not a problem."

Now the PAS statement: "Tear The Ballot Paper!" Says Mohamad Sabu.

Those conversant in Bahasa Malaysia can read here: Batu Talam : Koyakkan kertas undi! - Mohamad Sabu (In case you cannot access the report, click 'Laman' at the Harakah website.)

***** So what do you think? Is this a 'real' election in the truest sense of the word or just a farce being played out to keep to constitutional requirements?
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