More than 100 Chinese from Kedah have gone on a trip in three buses to the PAS-controlled states of Kelantan and Terengganu to assess the situation there for themselves.

The two-day trip, which costs RM160 per person, will also see the group holding dialogues with Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang.

When met yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, PAS Youth chief Mahfuz Omar said the trip was organised by the Chinese community in his Kedah constituency of Pokok Sena.

"They approached me several months ago to help them organise meetings with PAS leaders in the two states. The party is merely co-organising the trip," said the member of parliament.

According to Mahfuz, the group had told him that they found it hard to believe the news reports about PAS in the media and wanted to find out the real situation in these places.

Terengganu and Kelantan have often been demonised in the media, especially the state-owned RTM station. There is also a widespread perception that non-Muslims in these states are being suppressed by the Muslim-based opposition party.

Both states have also courted bad press with certain policies, which critics have denounced as extreme. This included a ban on the public sale of liquor and recently a ban on public dancing in Terengganu.

The group, which left for Kelantan last night, will head to Terengganu later today. They are expected to visit Chinese markets and Buddhist temples in both PAS-led states.

Election gimmick

Meanwhile, Mahfuz refuted the assertion that the trip was an election gimmick aimed at securing Chinese votes in Kedah.

"Even without the trip, I am confident that PAS can win the support of non-Muslims," he said.

Two weeks ago, China Press featured a news story regarding the trip under the heading 'PAS launches special tour package to attract Chinese voters'.

PAS which took control of Kelantan in the 1990 general election and Terengganu in the last elections, was said to have set its sights on Kedah for the upcoming polls.

Asked on the possibility of more trips involving other communities, Mahfuz said this would depend on the initiative of the respective communities.

PAS had also recently set-up two special committees - the Inter-Cultural Affairs Committee (Jaya) and Image Development Committee (Jati) - to foster closer ties between the party and non-Muslims.

In the last general elections, PAS won 12 out of 36 state seats in Kedah.