Kuala Lumpur (PTI): At 89, Maimun Yusuf is Malaysia's oldest candidate in the fray in Saturday's general election.

Many believe that the sprightly cloth seller, who has just acquired an email ID and a profile on Facebook, may swing votes in her parliamentary constituency of Kuala Terengganu in the country's east.

Party workers and observers are keeping a close watch on the possibility of sympathy votes for the 89-year-old grandmother who has been tirelessly campaigning on her rickety bicycle handing out posters of herself and talking to small groups of people.

Some believe the sympathy votes might help Maimun keep her 12,000 rupees deposit in the race to win the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat.

"What happens if a person believes that by voting for Maimun, Barisan Nasional will not be denied victory? "If we have more than 5,000 people thinking like this, can you imagine the number of sympathy votes she will get?" a supporter was quoted by the local media as saying.

Maimun's supporters believe that age should not be a reason to stop her from realising her dream of winning the seat. The oldest candidate who can barely read has got into Facebook, a networking site, with the help of a Yale graduate and his friend. The two created a profile for Maimun on Facebook, set up a blog besides uploading photographs of the octogenarian on Youtube.

Malaysians went to polls today where the ruling coalition of premier Abdullah Badawi is likely to win. Maimun is contesting in the 83,000-strong constituency which is witnessing a three cornered race. A Muslim Malay, she has spent most of her savings on the deposit and posters.