Islamic-run state to be major battleground in Malaysia's pollsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (AFP) - A remote and relatively poor northeastern state is shaping up as a major battleground in Malaysia's upcoming federal and state elections.Kelantan, governed since 1990 by the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), is the country's only opposition-controlled state. And members of the country's ruling National Front coalition have made no secret of their determination to seize control of it. PAS, in turn, says it is confident not just of holding on to Kelantan but taking one or two other seats in the northern rural Malay heartland. Kelantan National Front vice-chairman Mustapa Mohamed was quoted as saying Thursday that the Front saw its bid to topple the Islamic party as a major struggle. "Kelantan is a PAS stronghold and we hope to destroy it so that they will not have a role in politics," the state Bernama news agency quoted him as saying. Mustapa, who is Entrepreneur Development Minister, said the PAS brand of politics could destroy Muslims, Malay unity and the country. Official and pro-government media have for weeks been publicising government spending promises for Kelantan while highlighting the state's current perceived backwardness. But PAS is also making confident noises. Youth chairman Mahfuz Omar said: "We are confident of returning to power in Kelantan. There is no reason for the people to reject us but they have all the reasons to reject the National Front." He told AFP that apart from retaining Kelantan, "we are looking at taking over Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, Pahang and Selangor (states)." Analysts however are unsure if PAS, which seeks to make Malaysia an Islamic state, could take another state. But Michael Leifer, director of the Asia research centre at the London School of Economics, has said the loss of a second state such as Terengganu to PAS "would be a real political body blow" to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Mahathir and other leaders have been playing on the disparate nature of the opposition Alternative Front formed by three secular-minded parties and PAS to contest the next election. The government questions why the call for an Islamic state is not part of the Alternative Front manifesto. Recently it highlighted comments by PAS leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat -- that the prime minister need not be a Muslim -- as proof that PAS is willing to ditch its principles. "The Kelantan people will not renew the mandate of PAS, which has thrown away its principles and the constitution merely to gain the support of the DAP," Mahathir told a press conference Wednesday after announcing federal and state elections at a date to be fixed. The Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party is one of the partners in the Alternative Front. |
