In the last leg of the Tenang by-election campaign Umno has been striving to strengthen its message within the Malay heartland of Felda settlements.

But their issues were very different from MCA's. While MCA leaders harped on the PAS' Islamic state to stir up fear among Chinese voters, Umno heavyweights charged PAS with having lost its Islamic sense of direction.

bn ceramah at felda, tenang, by election With about 80 locals were treated to a sumptuous kenduri to rousing Sudirman songs before a ceramah  commenced where, Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam told the diners: "When PAS joined DAP, they lost their Islamic values.

"In Bukit Beruntung, they no longer shout takbir after a ceramah," he said.

He also provided instances of the PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat "forgiving" kafirs (non-Muslim) for their transgressions.

"For example, during the fasting month, the Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching had entered a mosque to give a tazkirah . How can a non-Muslim give a tazkirah in a mosque with her hair uncovered?

"When we say something, they say that Umno doesn't understand Islam.

"Same goes for (Selangor exco Elizabeth Wong). When her scandal broke out, PAS rushed to her side, saying kesian (pity). Even Nik Aziz told her 'I forgive you. Now go back to work'.

"This is already maksiat , she is liable to be whipped 100 times. She has brought shame to PAS, PKR and Pakatan Rakyat - this is all Nik Aziz's fault," he said, after launching a series of personal and sexual attacks on Wong.

' Send  message rejecting PR governance'

Addressing his ceramah, Felda chairman Mohd Isa Samad said that while winning or losing the Tenang state seat will have no bearing on the Johor or federal governments, the results should send a strong message to Pakatan.

"Why do we want to win? It is because we need to send them a message rejecting their governance. We reject the rubbish that they are already doing in their own states," he said.

Giving his own interpretation of the recent Selangor state assembly emergency sitting to amend the state constitution, the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, said the whole episode was deliberately manipulated to paint a bad picture of Umno.

"The Selangor government knows that they don't have a two-thirds majority. So what do they want to call an emergency sitting for.

azlan "And then when the vote didn't go their way, they called Umno derhaka (traitors).

"We want to send them a message that we don't want them to rule the country," he said.

Meanwhile, former PKR information chief turned Umno man Ruslan Kassim also gave a ceramah, in which he declared that he would not acknowledge Pakatan Rakyat name.

"I refuse to call them Pakatan Rakyat. To me, they are just Pakatan Pembangkang. They will just oppose every single thing even if it is good for the race, people, country and the future," he said.

Tenang folk go to the polls tomorrow where PAS' Normala Sudirman is squaring off with Mohd Azahar Ibrahim of Umno in a straight fight.