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Malaysia opposition leads in key by-election - poll
13-Jan-2009, Reuters, India

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leads in a crucial by-election seen as a test for prime minister-in-waiting Najib Razak, according to an opinion poll published on Tuesday.

The poll, which surveyed 527 people, was conducted last week but did not give an overall breakdown of voting intentions.

"It's still going to be a close race and although the overall situation appears slightly inclined in favour of the opposition, sentiments can still swing towards the government in the coming days," said the director of the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, Ibrahim Suffian.

The main ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is defending the seat against the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), one of three partners in the Anwar Ibrahim's opposition alliance, as well as an independent.

The by-election was called following the death of the incumbent UMNO MP.

A win by UMNO will help Najib put his stamp on the ruling alliance and regain lost support from Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, who handed the government its worst electoral result last year.