After more than 35 years of being isolated from sittings of the Malacca state assembly, the impending Merlimau by-election is firing the spirit of PAS to gain some footing in the state.

"That sentiment determines what the Malacca people are hoping for. Compared with the other states, the party is way far behind in Malacca.

NONE "However, we have to work hard," Malacca PAS deputy commissioner Adly Zahari ( right ) said when asked his expectations of the by-election in Merlimau, following assemblyperson Mohd Hidhir Abu Hassan's death.

PAS won its first - and last - state assembly seat in Malacca in Sungai Udang in the 1974 general election, and has since not won seats in BN stronghold states such as Malacca.

However, Merlimau is considered a potential seat for the conservative party. In the 2008 general election, PAS candidate Jasme Tompang lost to Umno's Mohd Hidhir by 2,154 votes.

Contacted by M alaysiakini today, Adly said the party's chances were brighter now, based on the number of non-Malay voters, who he claimed would be favourable to Pakatan Rakyat.

"Based on our 2008 performance, Merlimau saw a 19 percent vote swing to PAS, the highest in Malacca," he said, adding that Malay votes had not changed much throughout the history of elections in the state.

Of the 10,471 voters in the state assembly, 64.69 percent are Malay, 21.11 percent Chinese, 14.16 percent Indian and 0.04 percent others.

Adly also said Merlimau would be the benchmark for Pakatan's victory in Malacca.

"Merlimau is a semi-urban area. If we win here, the other urban areas will also fall," he said, adding that such a 'domino effect' could hit the Bukit Baru, Teluk Mas and Paya Rumput state seats.