KUALA BESUT, July 16 — Barisan Nasional (BN) is far ahead on Day Four of campaigning, a PAS leader acknowledged to The Malay Mail yesterday. 

PAS by-election director Datuk Husam Musa admitted that BN’s election machinery was running effectively and PAS was struggling to catch up.

“As we can see at present, BN is not using its full force and when they do, things will not be the same," he said.

“Our fear is BN’s full onslaught will include money politics."

Husam said the residents, being poor, would not be able to resist and PAS’s chance may be lost.

BN deputy by-election director Datuk Seri Idris Jusuh expressed confidence of a higher majority when met at a walkabout at the Kuala Besut jetty, from where tourists go to Pulau Perhentian.

“I personally think voters will not change their minds two months after the general election," he said.

“This means we have a 2,000-odd majority in our hands and with the personalised campaign and a young qualified candidate, we should be able to increase the majority."

The BN candidate, Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abdul Rahman, is knocking on every door possible from 8.30am to the evening, while his rival PAS candidate, Azlan Yusof, is focusing more on places where there are crowds such as the Ramadan bazaar and public markets.

Both candidates are not getting involved in nightly ceramah and seem to be concentrating more on a more personal greet-and-meet strategy with voters.