The News From N11 Permatang Pasir

Tomorrow is D-Day once again for by-election weary Permatang Pauh constituency. This time it's the State seat N11 where BN for all its government oiled machinery and political swagger, interestingly is only "hoping to reduce PAS' majority" as admitted by Information and Communictions minister Rais Yatim in today's Sun. Incidentally the weather for the past few days has been decidedly gloomy - perhaps a sign of the times for the BN coalition.

Meanwhile, an independent think tank Ilham Centre has projected a 64% PAS victory based on a poll of 200 voters in P. Pasir. The survey took place between 18-21 August. Full details on Malaysia Insider.

Not to be outdone, Khairy Jamaluddin tried a common Pakatan Rakyat manouvre by alleging that PAS had planted a 3000 phantom voters there - only to be told off by the Elections Commission! Things must be bleak indeed at the UMNO camp....

While another frog jumps ship....Lunas state assemblyman Mohd Radhi Salleh announced he was quitting PKR and become an Independent. However he "would like to keep" his Tourism, Community Development and Human Resources Committee chairman's post. It seems though that the Kedah Menteri Besar has effectively annuled the idea. Anwar Ibrahim has commented in his blog that "....he (Radhi) should never betray the trust of the people because 'what goes round, comes round.'"