From ST http://www.asiaone.com

'Dirty tricks' claims fly in polls

BN claims PAS is trying to dupe orang asli voters into spoiling their ballot while the opposition says the ruling front is trying to scare voters

Malaysia's government and opposition traded more claims of dirty tricks yesterday, two days before a bitterly-fought by-election seen by both as a crucial political test.

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition accused the opposition Parti Islam (PAS) of trying to hoodwink orang asli (aboriginal) voters into spoiling their ballot papers.

The opposition Barisan Alternatif said the BN was showering handouts on voters and scaring minority Chinese with "stark lies" and the "politics of fear".

The contest for the Sanggang seat in the Pahang state assembly is the first popularity test since November's national and state elections. It precedes May's leadership elections in the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the leader of the BN coalition.

The by-election is also a straight fight between Umno and PAS, which made big gains among Malay voters at Umno's expense last November.

As such, both sides have wheeled out their biggest guns to battle for the hearts and minds of fewer than 15,300 voters.

Claims of obscene gestures, forged letters and distorted Islamic teachings have already been traded.

Yesterday, Pahang State Executive Councillor Omar Othman said PAS was trying to confuse the orang asli into spoiling their votes because it knows they generally support the government.

He said PAS was telling the aboriginal community it was all right to vote for the BN "but at the same time, don't forget to also vote for PAS on the same paper".

He said he also received reports that the opposition was urging rattan traders to get orang asli workers into the jungles to stop them from voting.

Mr Omar said PAS also wanted to organise a fishing festival to keep orang asli away from polling booths.

The Barisan Alternatif of PAS and its three allies said the BN had been distributing handouts to various groups through state agencies and village committees, "tantamount to bribing the voters".

Last November, the Umno candidate -- who died last month -- had a majority of 1,038 over PAS.