BACHOK, MALAYSIA - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived in this opposition-ruled state yesterday and headed straight to PAS stronghold areas to sway their votes for Barisan Nasional.

From Bachok to Pasir Puteh to Kota Baru, Kubang Kerian, and then on to Tumpat, all PAS-dominated constituencies, the Deputy Prime Minister made the same call - to "cuba, try, test" Barisan for a term.

Arriving at Bachok with Bachok-born Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, who is the Barisan anointed Mentri Besar-in waiting, Najib told tobacco farmers that he felt the winds of change in their faces.

"Surely you want to see a Bachok boy become the MB. If a Bachok boy became MB, the fruits from the tree will surely fall onto Bachok soil," he said at the ceremony to give aid to tobacco farmers.

There are 12,000 tobacco farmers in Kelantan.

Acceding to Dr Awang's request, Najib said, the Federal Government had agreed to maintain the price of cured tobacco leaves at the current high of RM13.80 per kilo until the year 2012. "This is a promise," he said.

In Pasir Puteh, Najib also met farmers and those working with the Farmers Organisation Authority and told them to give Barisan a chance to rule the state.

Najib said the people of Kelantan had tried PAS for 18 years.

"And during that time what has happened - We have sent a man to space, but PAS masih main bulan (is still playing with the moon)."

In Chinese dominated Kota Baru, Najib appealed to Chinese voters in the Kota Lama state seat to make it a Barisan stronghold.

"Last time we lost the seat by 30-odd votes. Let's make up for it and make Kota Lama a stronghold of Barisan," he told thousands gathered at SMJK(C) Chung Hwa.

"Our economy is secure; in education, you have the option to go to Chinese schools or national schools. And if your house lease has ended, we will extend the lease for all races," he said.

Najib also threw support for Dr Awang's pledge to personally look into the interests of non-Malay communities.

In Kubang Sawah, Tumpat, Najib laid the foundation stone for an RM1.4mil mosque.

"When you drop your vote in to the ballot box, that marks the start of an era," he added.