PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang alleged that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's portrayal of an Islamic image was "unauthentic" ( tidak tulin ) and merely to gain political mileage.

He said that Abdullah is trying hard to attract the Malay voters as he is aware that the majority of them, including those in government service, are more attracted to Islam.

"Umno tries very hard to highlight Abdullah's Islamic image. During the last fasting month, we saw Abdullah acting as imam, heading several Tarawikh prayers (special prayers performed in the fasting month), but at the same time when his mother passed away, he did not lead the jenazah prayer when in Islam the latter is more important," said Hadi at a special press conference at his house in Rusila, Terengganu yesterday.

"This means that he chose to head the Tarawikh prayers just so he could visit Malay dominated villages and impress them with his co-called pious image. He goes to such length to gain support from the Malay voters."

He said educated voters will not be duped by such pretense adding that Abdullah can only impress the non-educated with these tactics.

"However, it is unfortunate that it is these groups of people (the uneducated ) that are the deciding votersthey are the fence sitters who have no other media channel than the ones offered by the government including RTM and TV3," he said.

"But we try to give them the real picture through alternative media but the democracy in Malaysia is not played on equal level...so it's difficult for us to reach them."

He however denied that PAS will be making "personal attacks" against Abdullah in the general election, adding that such attacks is more of Umno's kind of politics.

"We try to restrict our leaders and supporters from making personal attacks. But it is Umno who has been attacking PAS leaders especially from Kelantan and Terengganu," he said.

Follow true teachings

Asked if he was willing to soften his Islamic approach - often described as hardline - to attract more non-Muslims, Hadi denied adopting such strong approach.

"As a Muslim leader, I am merely carrying out the teachings of Islam. My approach on Islamic laws such as Hudud and Qisas cannot be considered as hardline as it is the true teaching of Islam. However we have stated that a divine law cannot be imposed to non-Muslimsso how can it be considered hardline?," he said.

He also stressed that PAS has no problems in interacting with non-Muslim community and that PAS governments in Kelantan and Terengganu have proved that they have treated everyone equally.

"We give financial support to needy Muslims and non-Muslims. We allow land and house ownership to those who deserve. We don't help Muslims who are already rich which is why some of them had decided to join Umno."

He also pointed out that the racial clash on May 13, 1969 only happened in areas administered by Umno and the Barisan Nasional.

"When we were governing Kelantan in 1969, such racial tension did not exist. We co-exist with people of other races and faiths in harmony until today. That's why you can see that one Chinese trader can prosper well in a Malay-majority village in Terengganu or Kelantan," Hadi said.