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Southeast Asia
Malaysia’s Islamic opposition prepares for key by-election
2005-11-06
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s hardline opposition Islamic party is gearing up for a fierce by-election in the only state it controls in a contest seen as a test of its popularity.

The fundamentalist Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), which rules northern Kelantan state, was left in the political lurch after one of its lawmakers died unexpectedly on Monday.
No, they don't tell us how he died.
PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Mat Isa said the party’s top leadership would meet in Kelantan in the coming days to choose a candidate and strategise for the election. He said the party expected a tough battle against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which has already signalled it is readying for an all-out fight. “They are going to come at it with full force, using the media and the full facilities they have. As usual we’re not just fighting UMNO, but the whole government machinery,” Nasharuddin told AFP in a telephone interview.

PAS narrowly controls Kelantan’s state assembly with 24 seats compared to the 21 seats held by Abdullah’s ruling UMNO-led National Front coalition. The death of PAS state lawmaker Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Jaafar, 55, has left party officials worried it will be hard to rule effectively and pass legislation. “That will be the case, because with a very tiny majority as such, we won’t be able to move anywhere,” said Nasharuddin.

PAS was trounced in Malaysia’s general and state elections in 2004 when the ruling coalition headed by the freshly-appointed Abdullah won in landslide results. While PAS retained Kelantan, the traditional heartland it has controlled since 1990, it lost northern Terengganu state to the National Front.

Its defeats in the 2004 elections were widely interpreted as a vote against the party’s approach to Islam, and it has since undergone a series of leadership changes to tone down its hardline reputation and woo young voters.

In Kelantan, the state’s chief minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat recently sanctioned a rare pop concert despite opposition from some Islamic scholars. Other liberalisation efforts include allowing cinemas to operate, although PAS officials say dim lights will be on to prevent any improper behaviour.

Analysts say the by-election will allow PAS and UMNO to test their influence following the 2004 elections. Since last year, optimism over Abdullah’s administration has dissipated.
Posted by:Steve White

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