By Wong Chin Huat, The Nut Graph

IF the Permatang Pauh by-election indirectly shortened Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's political life, the Kuala Terengganu by-election will not be much kinder to his chosen successor. It has been reported in Malaysiakini that incoming prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak sees this by-election as a do-or-die battle for the Barisan Nasional (BN). 

(The Straits Times)  — A Malaysian community leader initially fined S$15,000 (RM36,000) for offering a bribe to a traffic policeman was yesterday sentenced to jail for six weeks following an appeal by the prosecution.

By Neville Spykerman (The Malaysian Insider)

Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua said today that PLUS, the concession holder for the North-South Expressway stands to make a staggering RM25 billion in profits, in the next 20-years.

(The Straits Times) - Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad yesterday slammed the Malaysian government for approving a new budget terminal in Negeri Sembilan without explaining properly how the decision was made.

By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim drew parallels tonight between the conflict in Gaza and what he called the sufferings of Malaysians as he hit the campaign trail at a mammoth rally attended by thousands here.

The MCA is confident that Chinese voters in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency will vote for the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate at the Jan 17 by-election to ensure that development continues.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed today added to the chorus of criticism over the proposed low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Labu, Negeri Sembilan, insisting that the capacity at existing airports is sufficient.

Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua said today that PLUS, the concession holder for the North-South Expressway stands to make a staggering RM25 billion in profits, in the next 20-years.

(The Malaysian Insider) - Plantations-to-property multinational Sime Darby Berhad has dropped its bid for the Institute Jantung Negara (IJN) following public outcry and the government's decision to defer discussions on the controversial proposal.

(Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Barisan Nasional (BN) was ready to answer all issues raised by the opposition in the 17 Jan Kuala Terengganu by-election.

Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh, who risks losing his deputy minister post should he be defeated in the Kuala Terengganu by-election, has brushed aside Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed’s comment that he was a bad choice.

(Bernama) -- Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) candidate Harun Alias Ab Rahman Mohamad, who withdrew at the last-minute from contesting the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat, faces disciplinary action from the party.

Abdul Wahid Endut (Pas), Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh (BN) and Azharuddin Mamat (Independent) will be fighting it out at the KT by-election. – Photo by Choo Choy May

By Debra Chong and Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider

(The Star) - It will be a three-cornered fight for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat with three candidates having filed their papers on nomination day on Tuesday.

By Deborah Loh and Danny Lim, The Nut Graph

KUALA TERENGGANU, 6 Jan 2009: Nomination day is currently underway in this parliamentary constituency. A close battle is shaping up between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat, spearheaded here by PAS.

(The Star) KUALA TERENGGANU: It will be a three-cornered fight for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat with three candidates having filed their papers on nomination day on Tuesday.

By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak played down suggestions tonight that the Kuala Terengganu by-election is a referendum on his leadership.

Posters of dead Mongolian woman are put up ahead of crucial test for DPM

Deputy Premier Najib has repeatedly denied having any involvement with the late Ms Altantuya.

By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider

Dr. Mahathir may have jeopardised Barisan Nasional's (BN) chances in the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election when he said that the ruling coalition's candidate, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, is a bad choice and merely a proxy.

The Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the heavy police presence for the by-election here is necessary as Kuala Terengganu has a history of election violence.

(Bernama) -- Pakatan Rakyat has called on Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to convene an emergency sitting of the Dewan Rakyat to discuss Israel’s unlawful invasion of Palestine.

(Bernama) -- Malaysian Indian political leaders from both sides of the country's political divide are heading to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu in India this week to attend a conference which is likely to be an explosive affair.

(The Malaysian Insider) The Catholic Lawyer’s Society of Kuala Lumpur claimed today that the Home Ministry’s decision to ban the Bahasa Melayu edition of the Herald is unconstitutional.

(NST) KAPAR: Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam has rubbished rumours that he has been offered RM30 million to switch to the Barisan Nasional, adding it was the work of jealous politicians.

RTM will carry a special programme on the Kuala Terengganu parliamenary seat by-election over TV1 from 10.30pm daily beginning tomorrow (5 Jan).

(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh wants PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to state “once and for all” an irrevocable stand against the setting up of an Islamic state.

(The Star) - The Internal Security Act (ISA) is a preventive law used by the Government, not to punish detainees but to reform them, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Reports by SAODAH ELIAS, R.S.N MURALI and NG SI HOOI (The Star)

(Bernama) -- PAS's condemnation of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's development efforts only goes to show that the opposition party has run out of issues for the campaign in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 17, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

A PKR state assemblyman has launched a signature campaign to appeal to the National Land Council (NLC) to allow Penang people who live in low-cost flats to convert their land to freehold.