KEPALA BATAS (Malaysia) - MALAYSIA'S prime minister portrayed the opposition as a divided bunch of Islamists and leftists on Sunday as he sought to avoid a non-Muslim protest vote at a general election next month.

Mr Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's coalition is considered certain to be re-elected on March 8, but risks a backlash by Buddhist ethnic Chinese and Hindu ethnic Indians who have complained of religious and racial inequality in the mainly Muslim nation.

'The opposition pact is one of convenience,' Mr Abdullah, an Islamic scholar, said after he was nominated as a candidate in his home town of Kepala Batas, in a northern rice-growing area.

The deadline for nominations, which expired on Sunday, marks the start of formal campaigning.

Mr Abdullah portrayed the two main opposition parties, the leftist Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), as poles apart ideologically.

He also played up PAS's long-standing agenda to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state.

'In truth, the DAP will never agree to PAS, which wants an Islamic State,' said Mr Abdullah, wearing the traditional silk tunic and black cap of the majority ethnic Malay community, which is entirely Muslim and dominates the governing coalition.

The main opposition parties said on Friday they would stand just one candidate against the ruling coalition in each of the 222 federal seats. They aim to deny Mr Abdullah a two-thirds majority, the level needed to change the constitution.

In highlighting PAS's agenda for an Islamic state, which would include harsh Islamic punishments such as stoning and amputation, the Barisan Nasional coalition hopes to undermine attempts by PAS to soften its image and broaden its appeal.

To appeal to non-Muslims, which make up more than 40 percent of the population, PAS has pushed its Islamic-state agenda into the background and campaigns instead on a pledge to turn Malaysia into a 'welfare state'.

PAS also stresses that, under its policies, Islamic law would only apply to Muslims.

PAS's spiritual leader, cleric Nik Aziz Nik Mat, 77, opened his party's campaign on Sunday in northeastern Kelantan state, where PAS has governed for 18 years.

Mr Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan chief minister, arrived at the nomination centre flanked by supporters shouting 'Allahu akhbar' (God is greatest).

He wore a white turban and flowing cream robes and held a walking stick, and went straight on to the attack.

He accused Barisan Nasional of exploiting an undemocratic electoral system to retain power.

The coalition, a power-sharing arrangement between the main Malay, Chinese and Indian parties, has effectively governed since independence in 1957.

'We in Kelantan cannot get radio, TV and newspaper licences,' Mr Nik Aziz told reporters. 'It is also difficult to even hold rallies. What kind of democracy is this? It's not democracy, they are behaving like communists.'

The campaign has begun quietly but there are several potential explosive election issues, including rising prices, racial tensions and the conduct of the election itself.

PAS says there is strong evidence the March 8 poll could be one of Malaysia's dirtiest and that its supporters could run amok if election officials block any of its candidates from standing. -- REUTERS