WHEELCHAIRS IN DEMAND DURING BY-ELECTION

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Wheelchairs are in good
demand during the run-up to Saturday's east coast Kuala Terengganu by-election
as political parties go to the ground and donate several to the disabled.

A pharmacy, Farmasi Baiduri Sdn Bhd, here has sold 10 wheelchairs and has
had to order 10 more from Kuala Lumpur as stock ran out.

"Wheelchairs sales have suddenly increased compared to before the
by-election," said the pharmacy's manager Ahmad Kamal Sheikh Ahmad.

He said the price for a wheelchair was RM330 (US$92.14) for a solid wheels
unit and RM360 (US$100.45) for an inflatable wheels unit.

Opposition Islamist party, Parti Islam se-Malaysia (Pas) candidate, Mohd
Abdul Wahid Endut, when visiting a resident in Kampung Bukit Depu (Depu Hill
village) who had gout, donated a wheelchair to the person.

Pengkalan Berangan state assemblyman, Yahya Khatib Mohamad, helping out in
ruling Barisan Nasional candidate Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh's campaign donated
four wheelchairs.

The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election Saturday is a three-corner
fight among Wan Ahmad Farid, Mohd Abdul Wahid and independent candidate
Azharudin Mamat.
-- BERNAMA