KUALA TERENGGANU: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on political parties to refrain from violence in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on 17 Jan.

He said all parties should abide by the rules and regulations, and not engage in any unlawful activities.

"I hope that all parties, opposition and us included, will not resort to violence as this could mar the by-election.

"We don't want to see a repeat of incidents like the one in Permatang Pauh where a photographer was assaulted," he told reporters after holding a closed-door meeting with Kuala Terengganu Umno branch leaders at the Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman here.

Also present were Deputy Umno liaison chief Datuk Tengku Putera Tengku Awang and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh. (Bernama)