From AFP http://www.afp.com

Obscene Gesture Photos Reflect Campaign Freedom !

Pictures of an "obscene gesture" to opposition supporters by a Malaysian chief minister have become a campaign issue in a closely fought by-election, reports said Thursday.

Photos of the gesture by Adnan Yakob, chief minister of Pahang state, "are
believed to have been widely distributed" and have been posted on several
Internet websites, the New Straits Times said. The paper described it as an obscene gesture.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday night the pictures were being distributed by the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) but would not sway the outcome of the April 1 vote for the Sanggang state assembly seat.

Both the ruling party and the opposition are mounting intensive campaigns before the vote, the first test of public opinion since last November's general election.

Abdullah said he sympathised with Adnan, whom he said was responding to similar gestures from PAS supporters, and there were more important issues
to merit attention.

Adnan, quoted by the official Bernama newa agency, said: "I was reacting to sudden and grave provocation. Rudeness begets rudeness...tit for tat." He said opposition supporters outside the candidates' nomination centre had uttered abuse of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and ridiculed the ruling coalition.

"Initially I restrained myself and kept my cool until the PAS supporters resorted to showing finger signs at me and I responded in kind," Adnan said.