PAS, which vows to introduce death by stoning for adultery and amputation for theft exuded confidence Thursday as crucial by-elections got underway in the Malay heartland.

Abdul Hadi Awang, the acting president of PAS has said the group would retain the seats despite strong attempts by the ruling party to recapture lost seats ahead of coming general elections.

PAS, which controls Terengganu and Kelantan states, is pitted against the ruling Umno in the polls for parliamentary and state assembly seats in Kedah.

The Pendang parliamentary seat has 53,128 voters while Anak Bukit state seat has 19,399 voters. Kedah is the home state of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

As voting began with heavy police presence, supporters continued to woo voters by chanting slogans and singing songs.

"God is great. Long live PAS. Destroy Umno," PAS supporters chanted while Umno supporters sang their party song.

Packed voters

Polling stations in Pendang were packed with voters lining up under sunny skies.

Election officials expect heavy turnout. The result for the two seats would be announced later today.

A Malay voter, Saidin Khalid, 42 told AFP he voted for PAS. "My pick was PAS. I have full confidence in the leadership of the opposition. They are honest. I do not believe in Umno."

Another Malay, housewife Shahidah Yahya, 36 said she voted for the opposition. "I used to support Umno but they failed to keep their promise."

She did not elaborate.

But one Indian who gave her name as Wirama said she voted for Umno as she oppossed PAS plans to introduce strict Islamic syariah laws.

"I do not feel safe with PAS and I'm against Hudud law. What if they enforce it here if they win," she said.

Premier's message

Mahathir in a message urged voters to back candidates based on their capability.

"I hope the people will vote wisely to ensure a better future by electing candidates from the ruling party which can bring progress to the Pendang and Anak Bukit constituencies," Mahathir was quoted as saying by The Star daily. Umno is the main party in the National Front.

The PAS chief said the by-elections would be a test of support for strict Islamic syariah laws to be imposed by the party in northeastern Terengganu.

"If we win in this by-elections, it shows an acceptance of PAS and its laws," Hadi had said.

Syariah law prescribes measures such as amputation for theft and stoning to death for adultery.

The by-elections are seen as the last battle before the general elections which must be called by 2004 but are widely expected next year.

Many politicians and observers predict Umno would win the Anak Bukit state seat while PAS would retain the Pendang parliamentary seat.

Such a split could favour Umno but may dent the PAS ambition of taking over Kedah in the coming elections after making inroads in the state during the 1999 elections.

Malay support for PAS rose significantly in the 1999 polls but has eroded as its aim of creating a purist Islamic state sparked fears of extremism after last year's terror attacks in the United States, blamed on the Islamic al-Qaeda network. AFP