Islamic party PAS holding Malaysia's election key

In downtown Kuala Lumpur earlier this month, the charismatic opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim led tens of thousands of people at a rally to call for the toppling of the ruling coalition that has been in power since Malaysia's independence in 1957.

Many turned out for what effectively was the start of the opposition's campaign for elections expected to be called by March.

While Anwar fronts the opposition alliance that includes his own multi-ethnic party, and a party dominated by Chinese Malaysians, it is a third party, the influential Pan Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) that is emerging as the likely kingmaker.

In Malaysia, where Muslims and ethnic Malays make up the majority, the Muslim vote is crucial. The PAS, which draws inspiration from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, supports an Islamic state in contrast with Anwar's secular, nationalistic People's Justice Party (PKR).

The conservative segment of PAS wants to implement the Islamic criminal code called Hudud laws if it ever gains a two-third majority to change the country's federal constitution.

But realistically, it would be difficult for PAS to gain the number in the current situation.