THE economy may be sluggish and jobs hard to come by, but in Kelantan, which Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) has governed for the past 13 years, Islamic rule still has a lock on many voters who fear big-time development that could see Chinese businesses muscling in.
According to Umno leaders, 19 per cent of the people in Kelantan live below the poverty line while the national average is under 6 per cent.
A third of the 1.5 million Kelantanese work outside the state, and the average household income is three times lower than the national figure of RM12,867 (S$6,000) a year.
And major new projects that can open up job opportunities are not in the pipeline for the state, where PAS has ruled since 1990.
A professional who works closely with Umno leaders said: 'The economy is very bad in Kelantan. We need to change this attitude that as long as you have rice and anchovies, you are OK.'
Umno has identified the state of the economy as one of the grounds to attack PAS, and its leaders say that a vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) can bring in the projects and jobs.
The national elections must be held by December next year.
Umno-led BN suffered a major setback in 1999, when it lost more parliamentary seats to PAS in Kelantan and control of oil-rich Terengganu.
But despite the sluggish economy, a Sunday Times interview of more than a dozen ordinary Kelantanese on a recent visit to Kota Baru found that many emphasised another issue rather than putting bread on the table: the role of religion.
'Money is important but we need religion to guide us,' said Mr Jusoh Ahmad, a boat owner at the fishermen's village of Kedai Buloh.
They are worried that without the central role of Islam, a fast-paced economic growth will pull in the rampant materialism and social ills they hear so much about in the big cities.
In a state where less than 5 per cent of the population is Chinese, there still seems to be an undercurrent of fear that big development could mean a lot of Chinese businesses muscling in.
Said a Malay activist: 'Look at those new shophouses. I am worried, those belong to the Chinese. We would be sidelined.'
Part of the faith in PAS' rule emanates from the party's leaders, including Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is also the PAS spiritual leader.
'Nik Aziz and the other PAS leaders teach at mosques, so they gain respect. How many Umno leaders can give religious sermons?' asked cake-seller Maimon Hassan.
Others add that the leaders lead humble lives - Datuk Nik Aziz, for example, still lives in his humble family home instead of the official Menteri Besar residence.
And concerns about the 70-year-old leader's health override the economy.
'No one has died of hunger,' said silversmith Hassan Abdul Rahim.
'Even if BN returns to power, the lives of most people are unlikely to change much.'