PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat has warned defectors after a humiliating election defeat that they would be punished by the "wrath of God", a report said today.

Nik Aziz, who sparked controversy before Sunday's election over his promise that PAS voters would go to heaven, accused Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Barisan Nasional coalition of using money to buy votes.

"They used money all the way through. This is not at all gentlemanly. There is no democracy and more than anything else it is un-Islamic," he told reporters late Monday.

"The people were hypnotised with money and sweet words like 'please help me'. God willing, these things will not happen again."

Slim majority

The Star newspaper quoted Nik Aziz as saying that those who switched support to BN because of money would be punished by God.

"We will not legitimise the money they received, the water they drank or the rice they swallowed. They will earn the wrath of God for their entire life and we will receive God's blessings," he said.

PAS retained power in its northern stronghold state of Kelantan with the slimmest of majorities after a recount, but lost power in neighbouring Terengganu and was thumped in elecions to the federal parliament.