Pahang BN chairman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said such allegations, which were made by the opposition, were not new, Bernama reported.

“This is what they (Perikatan Nasional) do every time there is an election, they slander and make false claims,” Wan Rosdy, who is also the Pahang menteri besar, was quoted as saying.

Wan Rosdy said that only yesterday PN claimed that four BN assemblymen wanted to defect to the opposition, an allegation which had since been dismissed.

“So, this claim on (BN abusing) the government machinery is just a lie. But I will leave it to the EC to investigate since it is their responsibility.”

He was commenting on a call by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man for the EC to investigate BN for allegedly using the state government’s assets and machinery.

Tuan Ibrahim had also accused BN of handing out “incentives” while on the campaign trail.

The Pelangai by-election will witness a three-cornered fight between BN’s Amizar Abu Adam, PN’s Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasni.

The state seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman Johari Harun, who is from Umno, in August.