The test created a file in location relative to the datadir
(a few levels above datadir).
The file was created by MariaDB server (via INTO OUTFILE), and
later removed by mysqltest (via remove_file). The problem is that
when the vardir is a symlink, MariaDB server and mysqltest can
resolve such paths differently. MariaDB server would return back
to where the symlink is located, while mysqltest would go above
the real directory. For example, if the test is run with --mem,
and /bld/5.5/mysql-test/var points at /dev/shm/var_auto_X, then
SELECT INTO OUTFILE created a file in /bld/5.5/mysql-test , but
remove_file would look for it in /dev/shm/.

The test is re-written so that all paths are resolved in perl,
the logic itself hasn't changed.