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Barely 24 hours before polling day in the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election, Pas for the first time declared that the party was leading in a close race, but remained cautious that its opponent Barisan Nasional (BN) may resort to what it calls dirty tactics.

“We will win, comfortably, unless something big happens tonight. That is why we are taking extra precaution. If something happens beyond our control, it may tilt the balance,” said the Islamist party election operation director Datuk Wan Mutalib Embong.

He told reporters today that the party has mobilised central party leaders to work with state leaders in every polling station tomorrow as it suspects “phantom voters” may turn up at the polling stations tomorrow.

The Terengganu Pas deputy chief however said the party would ensure all party officials comply with the laws and promised that there would be no disorderly conduct on polling day.

“We are very mature; I already told them to behave well,” said the Ladang assemblyman.

“We have compiled a list of postal voters, and if they don't carry civilian’s identifications tomorrow to vote, we would be prepared to stop them, so I urged the phantom voters to think twice before coming to the polling stations,” said Wan Mutalib, insisting that he was not making a wild allegation.

“This is our suspicion,” he added, claiming that BN was desperate and has to resort to dirty tactics to win the election.

On the resignation of the returning officer Datuk Mat Razali Kasim yesterday, Wan Mutalib said he was glad with the Kuala Terengganu Mayor’s withdrawal, but was non committal when asked about the replacement, Wan Mustafa Wan Hassan.

Wan Mutalib added that the party would decide later today whether to oppose the appointment of the Kuala Terengganu City Council Secretary as the returning officer.

“I do not know the real reasons behind the resignation, but it is clear that we have made our objections,” said Wan Mutalib.

The party had accused Razali of campaigning for BN candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh at an assembly of City Council staff.

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