Politician Says Islamic Voters Will Go to Heaven

Lighting a torch under one of multiethnic Malaysia’s most volatile issues, the spiritual leader of the hard-line Islamic opposition said those who don’t vote for it will go to hell.

“It is stated in the Koran that those who rally behind Islam are also those who want to live under divine laws,” Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, a cleric esteemed by millions of ethnic Malay Muslims, told the Star newspaper. “And naturally, they will go to heaven for choosing an Islamic party, while those who support un-Islamic parties will logically go to hell.” Officials have warned candidates not to bring religion into the March 21 election.