(AFP) PAS is opening up to give women a bigger say in its forthcoming annual assembly, its leader said today.

For the first time women would sit as delegates at the party's general assembly from June 1-3 at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, said president Fadzil Noor.

"We have never blocked women from entering politics but previously there was limited space and no women delegates were elected by the divisions," Fadzil told AFP .

"We have now expanded and our women members are increasing, so we are opening up and letting them have more say in the party."

Hatta Ramli, a PAS central committee member, said at least 10 divisions have elected women as delegates to this year's meeting.

"The whole party is changing into a more open party and the women are making their presence felt. This is a good process and it will help us grow stronger," he said.

Malay split

PAS has more than 700,000 members and at least half of them are women, he added.

PAS gained popularity in the November 1999 general election, when it more than tripled its parliamentary seats to 27. It captured the state of Terengganu, and maintained control over neighbouring Kelantan.

Anger over the sacking and jailing of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim helped split the ethnic Malay vote, at the expense of the ruling UMNO.