A flaming row over election promises by the opposition Islamic Party PAS that its supporters will go to heaven while others go to hell grew hotter at the weekend.

Feisty former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was drawn into the fray, asking whether "rogues and rapists will also enter heaven if they are PAS members and vote for the party" in general elections on March 21.

PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat had thrown fuel onto the fire by saying : "It is already stated in the Koran that those who rally behind Islam are also those who want to live under divine laws laid down by Allah.

"And naturally they will go to heaven for choosing an Islamic party while those who support unIslamic parties will logically go to hell."

Mahathir countered: "I want to ask Nik Aziz when did he go to heaven and see the people who voted for PAS up there in paradise."

Unfair tactics

Mahathir's Umno, now headed by new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, also professes Islam and competes with PAS for the votes for the Malay Muslim majority.

But PAS says the government is not Islamic enough, and it wants to create a theocratic state in this multireligious Southeast Asian nation.

The Election Commission has warned that candidates promising heaven to their supporters could be barred from parliament, saying such tactics were akin to cheating the electorate. - AFP