There are often telltale signs when an election is close, especially when politicians shed their suits for more common outfits, kiss babies and visit wet markets.

Or in the case of Zambry Abd Kadir, drive a garbage truck.

However, the Perak menteri besar denied that his action was a “cheap publicity stunt” to garner votes.

“This (collecting) rubbish is not a question of cheap publicity. So I want to reprimand the opposition... enough,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.