RULING COALITION READY TO ANSWER ISSUES RAISED BY OPPOSITION

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib
Razak said the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN)coalition was ready to answer all
issues raised by the opposition in the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election.

The deputy prime minister said BN, however, did not expect many issues to be
raised in the by-election which would involve BN, opposition Islamic party (PAS
and an independent candidate.

Najib said at present the opposition was under increasing pressure to use
national issues and this showed that they were running out of local issues to
raise.

"Possibly in this by-election, the focus will be on local issues. But if
they raise national issues, BN is prepared to answer them," he told reporters
after the nomination of candidates for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat
by-election at the State Stadium, in this east coast city, Tuesday.

The by-election will see BN candidate Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh
contesting against Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut from PAS and an independent candidate,
Azharudin Mamat @ Adam.

It is being held following the death of incumbent Kuala Terengganu MP Razali
Ismail on Nov 28 last year. In the 12th general election last March, Razali won
with a majority of 628 votes.

The party supporters started converging on the area near the nomination
centre as early as 6am.

Several roads near the stadium were closed by police to facilitate traffic
control. Police helicopters hovered above to monitor the situation.

It was reported that 6,000 police personnel would be deployed to ensure
public order during the by-election.

According to Election Commission records, there are 80,229 voters in the
constituency.
-- BERNAMA