Multi-racial Kelantan PAS Poll Weapon

In PAS)-ruled Kelantan state, racial and religious harmony appears to prevail. (Reuters)

"I think the present PAS government is actually okay," Samantha Chong, 23, told Agence France Presse (AFP) on Sunday, March 2, as she heads for a coffee shop.

"They allow us non-Muslims to do what we want."

A walk down the dusty streets of the state capital Kota Bharu sees mosques located next to Buddhist temples, and veiled Muslim girls chatting with their short-skirted non-Muslim friends.

Food vendor Tan Mong See is doing brisk business openly selling roasted pork, which is forbidden under Islam.

"I've been selling pork and rice here for the last 10 years," Tan says as he serves ethnic Chinese and Indian patrons lining up for plates of the fragrant meat.

"The authorities know what I am doing and understand," adds the Chinese trader whose grandparents migrated to Malaysia in the early 1900s.

Political analyst Fazil Mohammad Som contends the situation in other states is quite different

"This is not the case for the rest of the country where many communities don't feel their rights are protected and many want to renegotiate the present power-sharing structure among the races."

Ehnic Indians are in revolt over allegations of marginalization and the Chinese community is upset by economic discrimination.

Muslim Malays form about 60 percent of Malaysia's 26-million population.

Buddhist constitute 19.2 percent, Christian 9.1, Hindu 6.3 while other traditional Chinese religions make up the test of the population.

Blueprint

PAS is not only pitting on this racial harmony to keep control over Kelantan in the snap elections, but also to make more gains.

"If we are in charge nationally, what you see in Kelantan will be a blueprint for the nation," vowed PAS state councilor Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said the party would include representatives of the different ethnicities and minorities in any government.

"Of course we will have non Muslims in the government and in key positions as the minorities must be represented and are a big part of our multiracial make-up."

The general elections will see three opposition parties running against the National Front coalition, has governed Malaysia in various forms since its 1957 independence.

Candidates are vying for 222 seats in the national assembly and a total 505 seats in twelve state assemblies.

At the height of its power, PAS controlled Kelantan and neighboring Terengganu state which it won in 1999 elections.

The party suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2004, taking only seven seats in the national assembly and control of Kelantan.

Since then, PAS has been trying to revamp its image and capture support among Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.

It has lifted a 15-year ban on the popular games of snooker and billiards and allowed cinemas to operate -- although with the lights on to prevent any unseemly behavior.

In a major face-lift before the elections, PAS said that it would not call for an Islamic state in multi-ethnic Malaysia and is fielding more youth and women candidates, including a non-Muslim.

Fearing a possible PAS comeback, the government is promising billions of dollar in new investments.

But many others, like headman Nik Man Nik Mat from the village of Luboh Tapak just outside the state capital, say the government's sweeteners will not change anything.

"If you give sugar we will use it and if you give us cloth we will wear it and if you give us money we will take it but when it comes to voting, we won't."