Malaysian by-election to be a nail-biter

Malaysia - A critical Malaysian by-election this weekend will be a nail-biter, according to a poll released yesterday that found voters are almost evenly split between the government and the opposition.

The vote on Saturday in northeastern Terengganu state is being seen as a referendum on the coalition government's performance and reform promises since a disastrous performance in general elections last year.

But the Merdeka Centre research firm said it was not able to predict a winner in the multi-ethnic electorate, with the Muslim Malays who dominate the population evenly divided between the coalition and the opposition.

KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesdy, AFP