SEREMBAN, March 8: Controversy over a religious party's election promise that its supporters will go to heaven forced Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to break his silence on the issue on Monday.

"Life after death is the promise of God. We cannot promise heaven, it's up to God to decide," he told some 10,000 supporters at a rally in Seremban, south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Abdullah had previously angrily refused to be drawn into the controversy, which has become a talking point before general elections on March 21, which are being closely watched for signs of growing religious extremism.

The opposition Islamic Party (PAS) has said that voters who cast their ballots for its candidates will go to heaven while others will go to hell. "It is already stated in the Quran that those who rally behind Islam are also those who want to live under divine laws laid down by Allah," said PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

"And naturally they will go to heaven for choosing an Islamic party while those who support un-Islamic parties will logically go to hell." Former premier Mahathir Mohamad has already been drawn into the fray, asking whether "rogues and rapists will also enter heaven if they are PAS members and vote for the party. "I want to ask Nik Aziz when did he go to heaven and see the people who voted for PAS up there in paradise."-AFP