A Chinese Kelantan town councillor told voters gearing up for the Anak Bukit and Pendang by-elections in Kedah next week to "think carefully" before casting their ballots.

Speaking at a ceramah (political talk) in Alor Janggus, Anak Bukit, Hu Pang Chaw said it was not true that Chinese people will encounter suffering under PAS rule.

"I have lived in Kota Baru ( the capital of Kelantan ) for 25 years. If it were true that the Chinese were oppressed there, I would be the first to run away," he said.

Kelantan has been under PAS rule since 1990. In the 1999 general election, the Muslim-based party also took over the neighbouring state Terengganu.

Hu, a former MCA member, said: "Unlike Umno, the ulama (religious scholar) leadership does not discriminate according to race. As long as we are needy, we are given homes, land and licences to do business.

"The only quota that exists there is that Muslim men can have four wives," said the exco who hails from Alor Setar the capital of Kedah.

Meanwhile, Kelantan state assemblyperson Anuar Tan provided a comparison between Barisan Nasional and PAS' rule of the state.

The opposition leader, who is a Chinese Muslim, accused the BN of "misleading the Chinese community".

"BN has misled us through MCA, Gerakan and the media. They (the Chinese) now realise the truth.

The Kelantan state government has been fair to all races," added Anuar, who is the state official in-charge of inter-racial and religious affairs.

Depletion of resources

Lending a hand in the campaign was Penang Keadilan deputy chief Cheah Kah Peng.

"The future of our children depends on who we vote for," he told the crowd.

"BN's rule has resulted in depletion of resources. Are we willing to sacrifice another 45 years and give our votes to Umno, MCA and Gerakan?

"Please think of your children and do not let them suffer the mistake you've done while casting your votes," he advised.

Also speaking at the ceramah was PAS Kuala Kedah member of Parliament Mohamad Sabu who said the party's leaders have been demonised as militants by the government in the media.

"But we intend to seek power through elections, not any other way. PAS or the Malays cannot win this elections alone, that is why we invite Keadilan and PRM to form the next government with us," he said.

He added that PAS leaders have made efforts to understand the Chinese community by having dialogues with its leaders, professionals and academics.

"We have meetings to learn from Chinese experts so that we know what are their beliefs and culture. By knowing, we can the partake in their cultural activities. But of course, if it is beliefs or faith, we cannot participate," he added.

Mohamad also called for the preservation of the Chinese language, saying that mother-tongue languages cannot be abandoned in Islam.

Only for criminals

On the controversial hudud law, which has been tabled in Terengganu, amid widespread criticism, he said the law is only applicable to Muslims and non-Muslims can opt to be tried under normal laws.

The PAS leader also condemned several secular laws, among them, the controversial Internal Security Act which provides for detention without trial.

"Hudud is for people who commit crime. Why are we afraid if we have not done anything wrong.

"The ISA is used to detain good people. Likewise, why no noise is made when people are hung for drug trafficking which is more cruel?" he said.

The Pendang parliamentary and Anak Bukit state assembly seats was Umno/BN''s until PAS wrested it away in the 1999 general election.

The late PAS president and opposition leader Fadzil Noor, who died on June 23, won the seat by defeating BN candidate and incumbent Othman Abdul by a majority of 2,939 votes.

The population is comprised of 77,427 Malay Malaysians, 7,266 Chinese Malaysians, 6,189 Thai Malaysians and 1,012 Indian Malaysians.