KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia - Campaigning kicked off Tuesday for a critical by-election seen as a test of the Malaysian government's popularity since disastrous losses in national polls last year.

"We must ensure we win this election. We must regain our political strength and influence," said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak who is leading the campaign for the January 17 vote in northeastern Terengganu state.

The government is hoping to show it has clawed back support with promises of reform and leadership changes after losing five states and a third of parliamentary seats in the March 2008 general elections.

For the opposition alliance, it is a chance to show its support is holding up and that it is working effectively, despite government claims that the partnership of three very different parties is already cracking up.

The by-election is the first major test for Deputy Prime Minister Najib who is due next March to take over the top job. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was forced to agree to step aside in the fallout from the national elections.

The campaign for the seat of Kuala Terengganu in the state's capital --
held by a government deputy minister and vacated when he died in November -- got under way Tuesday amid extremely tight security.

The parliamentary by-election is a three-corner fight between ruling Barisan Nasional (BN),opposition Islamic party PAS and an independent candidate.

Papers were filed Tuesday morning and returning officer said after the objection period which ended at 11am local time that four objections were received but all were rejected.

The contest for the seat will see BN candidate, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, facing state assemblyman for five terms since 1990, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut of PAS and independent candidate Azharudin Mamat alias Adam.

Wan Ahmad Farid, is the former deputy home minister, and was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, along with other UMNO and coalition party heavyweights in handing in his papers.

Tens of thousands of supporters from both sides faced off across metal
barricades manned by police in full riot gear, among a 1,000-strong security
contingent at a stadium where the candidates were officially announced.

At a rally late Monday, Najib urged his ruling party UMNO to abandon the
rivalries that have damaged its performance in past polls, and close ranks to
ensure victory in the vote which pundits say will be extremely close.

The BN candidate, Wan Ahmad Farid, 46, is a controversial choice as he is from a wealthy family in Terengganu and has been criticised as having little grassroots experience in the largely rural state.

The opposition is putting forward Mohamad Abdul Wahid, a 52-year-old who is unknown outside the state, but has an unblemished record and a history of wins in past state-level polls.

- AFP/Bernama/CNA/sf