Voting in a by-election in Malaysia's northeast Terengganu state began Saturday, in the first test of strength since elections in March when the hardline Islamic Party (PAS) was routed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition.

PAS hopes to win the Kuala Berang by-election for a state assembly seat, called after the death on July 30 of a lawmaker from the United Malays National Organisation, the main group in the ruling coalition.

The by-election comes as PAS, which aims to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state, was holding its biggest gathering since its general election defeat. More than 1,000 delegates convened in neighbouring Kelantan state for a three-day congress.

Kelantan is the only state out of Malaysia's 13 to remain in the control of the Islamists following the March general elections.