GEORGE TOWN: The jokers and tale spinners are pulling in the crowds, but will they be translated into votes come Saturday?

Acknowledging that the opposition was drawing the crowds by the thousands at their ceramah, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said: "Yes, they have speakers who can really talk and joke. They are good at spinning stories."

However, Koh said, experience had shown that large ceramah crowds would not necessarily be translated into votes.

Still, he added, Barisan Nasional expected tough fights in many seats.

"We realise that the Chinese voters seem to be unhappy, especially over the last two years.

"Now even the Indians have expressed their unhappiness. It is going to be an uphill battle in some areas, while in others it is a 50-50 chance," he said, adding the BN would just have to work harder to secure victory.

Koh said this when asked to comment on how the BN campaign was shaping up with just days to go before polling.

On fence-sitters, the outgoing chief minister said there were probably about 25 per cent who had yet to make up their mind.

"Some only make up their minds on the night before going to vote.

"This is normal and it happens in every election."

On his own chances for the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat, Koh said he could not take anything for granted.

"It is a large constituency and it is not easy for me as I cannot cover all the areas because of all the programmes that I have to attend.

"I apologise to the voters for not being able to touch base with all of them but the BN machinery is meeting them," he said.

Koh is facing DAP's Dr P. Ramasamy in the constituency which was won by the BN with a 8,998 majority in a three-cornered fight in the last general election.